Kriss Douglas Newman

Kriss Douglas Newman, age 73, of West Des Moines, Iowa passed away peacefully at MorningStar Memory Care facility on April, 6th 2025. He fought a long and courageous battle with Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease.

Kriss was born on December 22, 1951 to Hugh and Mildred Newman of Stockport, Iowa. He loved growing up on the family farm where he helped with chores and enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping with friends. Many stories have been told about his life with friends and family on the Des Moines River. While in high school, Kriss also worked at the family bank in Stockport. After graduating from Van Buren High School, he attended Northeast Missouri State University where he graduated with a business degree.

Kriss continued with a banking career after moving to Des Moines, IA in the 1970’s. After retiring from banking, he followed his passion for being outdoors and farming, as a crop adjuster. He also pursued his love for helping others and being with people through his job as custodian at Norwalk High School. While working in his various positions he was also proud to manage the family farm business for many years.

When in college he met his wife, Deb (McReynolds) Newman during the first week, and he sold her a book. He often joked that he got his book back because they dated throughout college years and married in 1979. They enjoyed traveling, music concerts, dinners out, cooking at home, being outside, and time with friends. Kriss was an animal lover and they enjoyed several pets through the years. They welcomed their daughter into the world on April 6, 1994. Kriss was a very proud Dad and often went shopping during his lunch breaks to bring home various beanie babies or McDonalds toys for her. Kriss became additionally proud when he became a grandpa and always perked up when his granddaughter came to visit and called him, “Poo paw”. They had a very special connection.

Kriss was friendly and loved by many. Most people who met him described him as caring, gentle and kind. He was determined, a hard worker and was very dedicated to any task in life. He loved being outdoors and worked to keep his Norwalk acreage decorated and manicured, before moving to West Des Moines in 2021. Kriss loved watching sports of all kinds, especially the St Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals baseball. Although he was a Hawks fan earlier in life, he quickly changed to a Cyclone fan to support his daughter who attended ISU. When she left for college he commented, “Well I guess I am a Cyclone now.”

He was preceded in death by his parents Mildred and Hugh Newman of Stockport, Iowa.

He will be missed by his wife of 45 years, Deb Newman of West Des Moines, Iowa; daughter Jessica (Brett) Snyder and granddaughter Averly Snyder of Ankeny, Iowa; brother Ned (Cory DeNuccio) Newman of Henderson, Nevada; Nephew Jeff (Lisa) Newman of La Jolla, California; Niece Lindsay (Mark) Faggiano of Reading, Massachusetts; Lifelong friend Fred Catcott of Osage Beach, Missouri and many coworkers, friends and caretakers that he has touched along the way.

A Celebration of Life service will be held in the Chapel at Lutheran Church of Hope (925 Jordan Creek Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA) on Wednesday, April 30th, with a visitation at 10:00 AM, Service at 11:00 A.M. and lunch to follow. A graveside service and burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 3 at Spencer Cemetery (Timber Road, Stockport, IA 52651).

Forever loved and never forgotten. Memorials may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association or Spencer Cemetery.