Tristan Richard Schoenhaar

Tristan Richard Schoenhaar, age 14, of Savanna, IL, passed away tragically on May 29, 2026. A memorial gathering will be planned, and he will be laid to rest at St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery in rural Savanna.

Tristan was born on January 16, 2012, in Dubuque, IA, the son of Chad and Amiee (Martelle) Schoenhaar. From the very beginning, he was inquisitive; the kind of child who always asked why, eager to understand the world around him. That curiosity grew alongside a deep and special bond with his grandpa, Richard Schoenhaar. From the time he could walk, Tristan could be found heading down the lane to his grandpa’s house. As a little boy, he made that daily walk for an oatmeal pie cookie before the two of them got to work in the garden. As he grew older, their days together expanded into working cows, taking four-wheeler rides, and chopping wood. Grandpa wasn’t just family, he was Tristan’s buddy.

Tristan shared that same closeness with his dad. The two hunted together whenever they could, and if there was a season for it, they were out in it. The time he spent with the strong role models in his life shaped him into a young man who pushed himself, worked hard, and gave everything his all.

In recent years, Tristan discovered a passion for sports, and his natural talent quickly became evident. He enjoyed playing basketball, and this past season he truly came into his own on the football field, where he recorded four touchdowns in a single game. He excelled on the wrestling mat and on the track as well, finishing first at regionals in wrestling, and helping his 4x100 relay team earn fourth place at State just a couple of weeks ago.

Tristan had many friends and was the kind of young man who carried a bright future ahead of him. Fiercely loyal by nature, he showed his protectiveness most clearly in the way he looked after his younger brothers, nephews, and niece. He was proud of them, and he took his role in their lives to heart.

He was looking forward to a summer on the river, commercial fishing; a season he hoped would make him stronger through hard work and time in the weight room. Tristan approached life with that same determination: always striving, always growing, always giving everything he had.

Though his time here on earth was far too short, Tristan lived a beautiful childhood and early teen years filled with adventure, natural beauty, meaningful work, proud achievements, good friends, and above all else, an undying love from his family. His life, though brief, was rich in the things that matter most, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Tristan is survived by his parents, Chad and Amiee; siblings, Megan Schoenhaar, Cheyanne (Glenn) Hoffman, Trenton Schoenhaar, and Chad “Junior” Schoenhaar II; grandfather, Guy Martelle; nephews, Lane Windett and Logan Hoffman; niece, Adilynn Windett; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Richard and Kathy Schoenhaar; grandma, Kathy Martelle; and two cousins, Devin Johnson and Donald Sipe, and his beloved dog, Tanner.