Teresa Karen Towy Bearinger

Teresa Karen Towy Hunter Crouse Bearinger, 74, of Urbandale, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, just two days shy of her 75th birthday.

Teresa was born on October 16, 1951, in Atlantic, Iowa, to John and Jane Joline (Torbert) Hunter. She grew up in Atlantic and graduated from Atlantic High School in 1969. Atlantic would remain a community that would play an important part of her life for many years.

Teresa attended the University of Iowa, where she was a proud member of Chi Omega Sorority and earned her degree in Elementary Education. She went on to spend many years as an elementary school teacher, including positions in Mechanicsville, Reinbeck, West Des Moines, and in her hometown of Atlantic, dedicating her career to educating and making a difference in the lives of elementary school children across Iowa.

In 1973, Teresa married Dennis Crouse. Together, they welcomed two sons, Ben in 1977 and John in 1985. She was an incredible mother from day one, full of love and spirit. She had a way of pushing her boys to become the best versions of themselves. Teresa took great pride in her sons and the families they would go on to build. She especially cherished her role as grandmother to Bailey, Abigail, and Jett, who brought her tremendous joy.

In 2004, Teresa married Douglas Bearinger at Jester Park in Granger, Iowa, and the couple made their home in Urbandale, Iowa. Through their marriage, she gained four stepchildren, Robyn, Kevin, Jarod, and Aaron. Together, they enjoyed traveling and making memories, especially when their adventures took them to Florida and Canada, where her sons lived. These trips provided wonderful opportunities to spend time with family and explore new places together.

Teresa had a beautiful smile, was a great listener, played the piano beautifully, and had a sharp mind with an appreciation for proper grammar. Douglas could always count on Teresa to offer a gentle (and sometimes not so gentle) correction whenever he used the wrong word or his grammar didn't quite measure up. It was one of the many little things that made Teresa uniquely herself and added character and humor to their life together.

In addition to family and education, Teresa was a faithful Christian. She was baptized as a child in the Presbyterian church and again as an adult in Des Moines. Through her health struggles, her faith remained constant.

As health challenges made traveling more difficult in recent years, Teresa and Douglas found happiness in the quieter moments of life. Many evenings were spent side by side, enjoying their favorite television shows. They shared a particular fondness for true crime mysteries, with Dateline being Teresa's favorite. While their more recent adventures brought them closer to home, the companionship they shared remained a meaningful part of their life together.

Teresa was preceded in death by her parents, John Kenneth Hunter and Jane Joline (Torbert) Hunter, her niece Shannon Clausen, and her step granddaughter Kate Bearinger.

She is survived by her husband, Douglas Bearinger; her son Ben and granddaughters Bailey and Abigail; her son John, his wife Angela, and grandson Jett; her sister Rebecca Clausen; and her brother Craig (Julie) Hunter. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, stepchildren, step grandchildren, and step great-grandchildren who were part of her extended family.

Teresa will be remembered for the love she shared and pride she took in her family, for her faith, her dedication to education, her love of her dogs (Luigi, Sunny, Yogi), her intelligence, and the life she shared with Douglas. Those who knew her well will remember that she cared about family above all else, with a Thanksgiving tablecloth with over 30 years of her family's handwritten thankful notes as evidence.

Celebration of Life

A Celebration of Life honoring Teresa will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home in Urbandale, Iowa. Visitation with the family will take place from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., followed by a celebration of life service at 11:00 a.m.