Bensema, Sheryl Mrs. Brandt 1957-2004

BENSEMA, SCHULER

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 1/21/2012 at 08:39:08

Sheryl Bensema
December 7, 1957----August 15, 2004
Age: 46 years, 8 months, 8 days
Funeral Service: August 19, 2004, Central Reformed Church, Sioux Center, Iowa
Interment: Memory Gardens Cemetery, Sioux Center
Sheryl Ann Bensema was born December 7, 1957, in Minot, ND to Willard and Lucille Schuler. She was raised in North Dakota, but did live briefly in New York and Washington during her youth. She was confirmed in the Lutheran church. She graduated from Velva High School in 1976 and attended Minot State College.
On August 19, 1983, Sheryl was united in marriage to Brandt Bensema in Tuscola, Illinois. During the first years of their marriage, they traveled with Brandt's job and lived in Illinois, Texas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Tennessee and Georgia, prior to settling in Sioux Center, IA in January 1987. Sheryl worked for many years in the Media Department at AEA 4 in Sioux Center, where she enjoyed the camaraderie and the friendships. She was a member of Central Reformed Church in Sioux Center, where she was involved in various women's groups. Her friends from her Couples Bible Study group were a major part of her life and the women from her "Tuesday Prayer Group" were Sheryl's support network, as they prayed through each family's ups and downs in life. Sheryl's favorite thing to do in life was to be a Mom and a wife. She attended every concert, sporting event and activity her family was involved in. She was a great mentor and example for her daughters, whom she dearly loved. Sheryl's goal was to see Amy and Sara graduate from high school and college and start families of their own. She didn't get to see the goal completed, but she was able to see her girls become beautiful and strong young women. Although Sheryl and Brandt had two distinct personalities (proving that opposites do attract) they shared a great life together They shared a love for country music, concerts and travel. Most of all, they shared a love for their daughters and prayed together for their success and happiness in life. Even as Sheryl struggled with her cancer, she always put the welfare of others first and was a friend and symbol of strength to all that she came in contact with.
Grateful for sharing her life are her husband, Brandt; her two daughters: Amy, who graduated from Iowa State, lives and teaches in Enzan, Japan and Sara, of Sioux Center, who is a junior at Northwestern College. Other survivors include her mother and step-father, Henry and Lucille Schiele of Minot, ND; two brothers, Michael and his wife Janet of Valley Center, CA and Daniel and his wife Denise of Minot, ND; three sisters, Debbie Feller and her husband Bryan of Voltaire, ND, Shelly Walz and her husband Gene of Max, ND and Kathy Pearson and her husband Troy of Burlington, ND; grandmother. Bertha Schuler of Bismarck, ND; and lots of nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family members and close friends.
Her father, Willard Schuler, her maternal grandparents and her paternal grandfather, preceded Sheryl in death.
Source: Memorial Funeral Home, Sioux Center, IA., obit.