Niki Schuler

"I'm gonna live, damnit!"

Never have more fitting final words ever been spoken. In her too-short 35 years, Niki lived more fully than most people do in much longer lives. Her resilience and determination to live - even to the very end - was nothing short of inspiring. She radiated energy and light wherever she went, and it was her mission to spread love and positivity. She absolutely achieved that goal.

A daughter, a sister, a friend, an aunty, and a cat mom, Niki threw her whole heart into her friends and family. She was always there when you needed her - with a hug, a listening ear, and the warmest smile ever seen. She loved her nieces as if they were her own children. She adored all animals. She even insisted that her cat be snuck into the hospital not once, but twice, in her final weeks, just so she could cuddle him and say goodbye.

To know Niki was to love her immediately. She had a rare gift for making every single person around her feel included, seen, and valued. She noticed everything - who needed reassurance, who needed a blanket, who hadn't eaten yet, who looked a little overwhelmed. Sometimes it seemed she couldn't even relax until she knew everyone around her was taken care of. She was generous, thoughtful, and remarkably attentive. You never had to repeat a story; she remembered every detail, checked back in, and made you feel genuinely important.

Niki loved life - every part of it. The highs, the lows, the messy middle. Even when life handed her impossible challenges, she met them with a fierce commitment to living. She never turned down an adventure; she walked into each one with curiosity and excitement about what she might learn. When we picture her now, we see her eyes widening with joy whenever something delighted her - and then her immediate instinct to make sure everyone around her got to share in that joy. That was just the kind of person she was. Is. And will forever be.

Niki was the bravest, strongest woman any of us have ever known. Her courage was contagious. Being with her made you feel safe - like suddenly you could do anything too. She was never afraid to try something new. She was the ringleader, and following her always led to something fun, unexpected, and magical.

Diagnosed with a terminal illness at just 12 years old, Niki knew her time would be limited - and she refused to waste a moment of it. She seized life with both hands: cruises with her mom, concerts with her brother, spontaneously moving across the country to New York City with her sister. She squeezed every last drop out of her years. Earning her esthetician license from Aveda was a milestone she deeply cherished and took enormous pride in.

A lover of music, fashion, makeup, skincare, and shoes, Niki was always the best-dressed person at every concert she attended. A party girl at heart, she had the uncanny ability to make even sitting in her car listening to music feel like the best night of your life.

When asked which concert was her favorite, she chose Lady Gaga's Mayhem Ball. She had flown to NYC to see it with her sister. The final line of her favorite song from that album is: "When I die, can I vanish into you?" And the truth is - she has. For everyone who knew her and loved her, Niki has become a part of us. We will carry her joy, her boldness, her laughter, her sparkle, and her love forward. We will live our lives as fully as we can, because she showed us how.

When people near the end of life, they ask themselves whether they made an impact, whether the world will remember them; Niki never needed to wonder. Her impact is profound. She changed us - her family, her friends, her community. She will be remembered with deep gratitude for the love she gave freely and the life she lived fiercely.

As we navigate a world that feels so different without her physical presence, may we find peace in knowing this: Niki is embedded in all of us, inextricably and beautifully. She has vanished into us - and she will live on through every life she touched.

Survived By

Niki is survived by her grandfather Scott Schuler, step-grandmother Donna Jones, mother Lisa Jones and stepfather Josh Jones, father Tim Keller and stepmother Marla Keller; her brother Austin Keller and sister-in-law Alyssa Keller; her sisters Nicole Titus and Ally Speirs; step-siblings Brendan and Bailey Jones, and Brenna, Rena, and Kane Rogers; her beloved nieces Scarlett and Aria Keller; and her cherished cat, Diesel.

Celebration of Life

Please join us in celebrating the life of Niki Schuler.

Date: Sunday, December 7th

Time: 12:00 - 3:30 PM

Location: Ken's Not So Secret Speakeasy

Below The Iowa Taproom

215 E 3rd St, East Village - Des Moines

We'll gather to share memories, stories, and the love Niki brought into our lives.

All who knew her are welcome.

In Lieu of Flowers

Please consider a donation to the Animal Rescue League (ARL) in Niki's honor.

Niki loved cats - especially her Diesel - and supporting the ARL is a beautiful way to honor her memory.