Christopher Shawn Bookout of Des Moines passed away on May 9th, 2026, at his home in Des Moines. He was 57 years old. A graveside service will be held at Palo Alto cemetery on Friday May 22nd, 2026 at 10:00 am. 4968 Hwy S74 S, Newton, IA 50208.

Chris was born May 23, 1968, to Debra Bookout, and was lovingly adopted and raised by Hank and Fern Bookout. Growing up in the Prairie City-Monroe area, Chris discovered early on a passion for competition, excelling in football and wrestling before graduating from Monroe High School in 1987. That same drive never left him.

As a father of six, Chris poured that competitive spirit into the people he loved most. He coached his children in bowling, and together they earned dozens of State and Regional titles, a legacy of Saturday mornings, lane shoes, and hard-earned trophies that his children will always carry with them. He was also a dedicated darts competitor, never far from a good game and good company.

Away from the lanes, Chris was an avid trading card collector, building an impressive collection spanning Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Star Wars, and beyond. What might look like a hobby to some was, for Chris, a world of curiosity and care, qualities he brought to everything he loved.

For over 15 years, Chris enjoyed many late night drives with early morning sunrises set to soundtracks by Kid Rock completing overnight deliveries for the Des Moines Register. As his family grew, so did his ambitions, inspiring a diverse career in the food industry, which he enjoyed for the remainder of his career.

Chris is survived by his children Shanielle (Benjamin), Nytasha (Tucker), Marissa, MacKenzie, Cameron (Serenity), and Damien; his grandchildren Saybree, Aubree, Cambree, Theodore, Paislee, Lilith, Malia, Maizee, Makiah, Jaxton, and Luella; and his siblings Connie, Frank, Mark, Shannon, Brenda, and Joe.

He was preceded in death by his mother Deb; his parents Hank and Fern; his sister Sharon; his brother-in-law Mike; his uncle Gene; his nephew Nate; his cousins Porter and Vincent; and his brother-in-law Pete Hesse.

Chris leaves behind a family that is larger than most and a love that runs deeper than any of them can easily put into words.