Cheryl Ann Kleinschmidt, loving wife of Michael, Mother of Jon and Jenipher, Daughter of Carol , Jack and the late Gerald Knospe, Sister of Patrick and Dennis, Grandmother of Alexis, Gavin and Carson and loving, trusted friend of many, passed away at her home on Sunday, June 7
th
. She was born and raised in Merrill and would have been 54 this coming September. She graduated from
Merrill
High School
in 1974 and served in the United Stated Army for four years, graduating in only the second class of women to serve in the infantry at a time when few women served in the military. She served her country while stationed at
Fort Huachuca
,
Arizona
where she adopted a love and fondness for the desert and later served in
Bamberg
,
Germany
, a time she would often recall as one of the best times in her life. In 1977 she married Michael in a simple ceremony in
Arizona
. She would later graduate from
North
Central
Technical
College
with a degree in accounting. While still in high school, she worked for the T.B. Scott Library where she developed a never ending love for books and reading. She would later work for the Weinbrenner Shoe Company and eventually found herself employed with Rite Screen, formerly J.W Window Components, where she worked for the last twenty years.
Cheryl enjoyed spending time with her children and especially her grandchildren. She was a devoted mother and wife. She was a fan and lover of Boston Terriers and following her family, her dogs were her greatest love. She enjoyed traveling and loved the summer vacations the family would spend in Upper Michigan on
Lake Superior
. Although she never had a green thumb, she loved the family garden and flowers that Michael would plant each spring. One of her greatest joys in the summer was to spend hours in her backyard and cut fresh flowers for her kitchen. She will be sadly missed by all who loved and cared for her. She was called on Sunday morning to join her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and was proceeded in death be her loving dog of 18 years, Maggie, her grandmother, Irene (Boetcher) Vannoy and her father Gerald Knospe.
Services will be held Thursday, June 11 at 7PM at Waid Funeral Home. Visitation will also be on Thursday, June 11 from 5PM until the time of the service. Pastor Missy Holdorf will officiate. Online condolences may be made at www.waidfuneral.com
