Cheryl Anne Kroemer Obituary

Cheryl Anne Kroemer, 67, Syracuse, died Saturday, May 10, at home. She had been in failing health for six years.Cheryl was born July 9, 1946, in Chicago, a daughter of Robert and Bernette (Maringer) Lips.The family moved to Fremont, Mich., in 1950 and she grew up there, graduating from Fremont High School in 1964.She attended Concordia College in Ann Arbor, Mich., where she met her husband, James Kroemer. They were married May 7, 1966. He survives.Also surviving are two sons, Adam Kroemer, South Bend, and Dr. Aaron (Sherri) Kroemer, Lowell, Mich.; one daughter, Staff Sgt. Joy (David) Dulen, Tyrone, Ga.; one grandson, Adam Paul Dulen; and one sister, Sheila (John) King, Titusville, Fla.Cheryl was a woman with deep faith in God, a faith never shaken by her long battle with heart disease and PSP, a debilitating neurological disease. Her courage and positive attitude were an inspiration to many people.Her work history was diverse. She was a stay-at-home mom when her children were small, but also worked as a newspaper advertising sales rep, nurse’s aide, cheerleading coach at DeKalb High School, departmental secretary at Phillips Industrial Products, and for many years as administrative assistant to Dr. Kent Hunter at the Church Growth Center.She threw herself wholeheartedly into every endeavor she ever undertook, but the four great passions in her life were her faith, her family, her music and the Chicago Cubs.She was a member of Nappanee Missionary Church and attended the Oasis women’s bible study there.Her desire to help others and to spread the message of God’s saving love led her to participate in mission trips to Moscow in 1994 and 1995, Kazakhstan in 1996, South Africa in 1997, the Amazon River in Brazil in early 1998, India in November of 1998, Nigeria in 2000, and Jamaica in 2003.Cheryl loved music and was a gifted pianist and choir director. While still in her teens, she was the church organist for Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fremont, Mich. She directed the choir at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kendallville in 1968 and 1969, and Trinity Lutheran Church in Auburn in the 1970s and 1980s. She was founding director of Sounds of Grace, the adult choir at Aboite Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, a group she led throughout the 1990s.She also founded and directed A Few Good Men, a men’s octet that performed contemporary Christian and Southern Gospel music all over Indiana and other Midwestern states, including several appearances at boat-in worship on Lake Wawasee.Cheryl had a beautiful alto voice and sang in number of choirs and smaller groups through the years, including the praise teams at Faith Missionary Church in Martinsville, Ind., and Mt. Zion Christian Church in Winchester, Ky.Her lifelong devotion to the Chicago Cubs was a source of amusement and amazement to her friends and family, but was heartfelt and a constant throughout her life. She attended more than 100 games at Wrigley Field and kept a scorecard from each one. She never missed a Cubs game on television or radio and was quick to chastise anyone who disparaged her beloved team.She passed her devotion to the Cubs on to her children and loved nothing more than attending games with them or watching the Cubs on television with them. She also loved spending time with her family on Lake Wawasee, fishing or quietly cruising around the lake on the family pontoon boat.Friends may call from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen, and two hours prior to the 11 a.m. funeral service Friday, May 16, at the Nappanee Missionary Church, 70417 SR 19.Preferred memorials are to the CurePSP Foundation and CureSearch in memory of Joey Keller.Online condolences may be shared at www.yoderculpfuneralhome.com