Steven "Shooter" Demaray

Steven "Shooter" Demaray age 70 of New Hampton, IA died Monday, November 15, 2021, from injuries sustained during an automobile accident. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, November 20, 2021, at Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton with Rev. Kevin Frey presiding. Friends may greet the family from 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 20, 2021, at the funeral home. Steven was born on October 23, 1951, to Leighton and Catherine (Norman) Demaray in Charles City. Along with his four sisters and two brothers, he grew up on a farm near Rockford. As a child, he loved going to Grandpa Jay’s and Grandma Dorothy’s to help milk cows, feed pigs, tend chickens and help with other chores on the farm. Later in life, he took those farm experiences and had cattle, pet donkeys, and fainting goats on his own small hobby farm outside of Waucoma. Everyone asks and no one is quite positive but the story has been told that he picked up his nickname when he was duck hunting with a friend and accidentally shot a hole into the bottom of his buddy’s boat and sunk it! From that day forward, he was “Shooter", and he liked to announce his presence by yelling "Big Shoot's in Town"! He was a member of Rockford (Iowa) High School’s Class of 1971. Shooter lived life to the fullest. He loved, worked, and played hard. If you didn’t know him, once you met him you most likely became one of his many "best friends" instantly. He loved his fishing trips to northern Minnesota and Canada with so many different people, and every now and then he could be convinced to go fishing on Clear Lake or the Mississippi, even though in Shooter’s mind, the only "real" fishing was up in northern MN. In August 2002 he met his wife Cheri (Barbknecht) while catering a party for a mutual friend in Janesville, MN. Cheri and Ashley moved to Waucoma in 2004 and they later married in Las Vegas on April 23, 2010. He had three children — Kaylah, Logan, and Ashley — and he loved them with all his heart. When the kids were little there were many adventures, some of which included family trips to the Dells, driving lessons out in the field in "Ole Buckskin" and being his less than adequate farm hands at his hobby farm. The pay was low, the language wasn't great, but the memories and laughs were abundant. As they grew older they also enjoyed many ISU events with their Dad as well as fishing and deer hunting. Shooter and Cheri packed a lot into their 19 years together. Many thought that through her teaching profession she would be able to school the "Big Shoot" to her more cautious ways...let's just say it didn't take very long before "SHE JUST LEARNED" to enjoy the ride! Their time together will be remembered with plenty of love, laughter, jokes, and hosting get-togethers for friends and family. Shooter was a master of cooking delicious food and loved sharing that talent with many others. He also loved "making cooking videos" while he prepared these feasts. Together they developed a passion for traveling to Caribbean destinations and yearly family fishing trips "Up North". He was many things to many people but especially loved being “Papa Steve” to his two grandchildren, Jada and Blair. Shooter made special time for their dance recitals, school programs and loved having breakfast with them at Dave’s Restaurant in Charles City. Shooter was one of those guys who really did get along with everyone. Most people who knew him would have never guessed he was 70; he certainly didn’t act like it, that’s for sure. His friend groups crossed all ages; it included but definitely was not limited to fishing buddies (of which there are many) neighbor kids, coffee groups, and work friends. He was great at dispensing advice, even if he didn’t follow his own counsel most of the time. He loved entertaining through storytelling, and most recently he took to "playing" guitar and singing for small crowds only. His loss leaves a huge hole in the hearts of his family, and he will be dearly missed by legions of friends. There is no doubt that the world was a better place with Shooter in it. In his words, "Once you've had the best, you forget the rest!" ~Big Shoot He is survived by his wife, Cheri of New Hampton, IA; his son, Logan (Nace Waterman) Demaray of New Hampton, IA; two daughters, Kaylah (Nick) Schweizer of Marble Rock, IA, Ashley (Travis) Arends of Parkersburg, IA; two granddaughters, Jada and Blair Schweizer of Marble Rock, IA; father, Leighton Demaray of Rockford, IA; one brother, Mike (Julie) Demaray of Osceola, IA; four sisters, Connie (Gene) Schuster of Rockford, IA, Pam Dight of Osage, IA, Debbie Huft of Rockford, IA, Kim (Jerry) McDowell of Mason City, IA; his wife’s parents, Deb Barbknecht and Alan Barbknecht; a brother-in-law, Eric Barbknecht of Janesville, MN; numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews; special friends, Rylee, Jordan and Jaxen Ferch of Charles City; and his two beloved dogs, Maggie and Zoey. He was preceded in death by his mother; one brother, Jay Demaray; two brothers-in-law, Tom Dight, Jack Spence.