Cheri A. Thiel

Norfolk — Cheri Anne Thiel, 75, of Norfolk, formerly of Ewing, died peacefully Monday, December 9, 2024 in Norfolk, surrounded by her loving family. She had been struggling with progressive dementia for several years.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at Bethany Presbyterian Church, 85179 494th Avenue in rural Ewing, Nebraska, near her childhood home in southern Holt County.

Burial will be in the Bethany Cemetery in rural Ewing, followed by a luncheon at the church.

Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

Home for Funerals in Norfolk is in charge of the arrangements.

Cheri was born on March 26th of 1949, to Bob and Janie (Mellor) Summerer in Stuart. Her birth occurred at the time of the big winter blizzard of '48/'49. Her new family flew home in her father's plane to their farmstead in rural Holt County. She attended grade school at the Goose Lake #73 rural school and spent her first three years of high school living in a dormitory attending Bartlett High where she was a class leader and cheerleader. The family moved to Norfolk, so her senior year was spent at Norfolk High, graduating in 1967.

Rural Youth and 4-H were important social and skills development organizations that birthed talents that benefited Cheri throughout her life. Her leadership skills were already evident in high school, winning awards in sewing and other home economic skills, and even winning a trip to Washington, DC. 

Cheri earned a degree in home economics from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1971. She would later receive a master's degree in consumer economics at UNL in 1990. Her thesis was titled, "Impact of Education and Financial Training on Household Net Worth."

Cheri's initial career included teaching home economics first at Wymore, then Columbus. 

At a Bible study in Columbus, she met her future husband David Thiel. They were married on July 27, 1974. The couple moved to Lincoln where Dave managed his father's insurance company. Their family grew with the additions of Daniel, Dennis and Christel. While her children were young, she provided childcare in her home. Family life included square dancing, camping trips, church involvement and family get togethers.

Home economics was a passion of Cheri's that impacted every aspect of her life. She excelled as a seamstress, creating and altering clothing. Her gardening and canning skills augmented her cooking acumen. 

Cheri had been described as a person of grace and style. She had talent as a conversationalist and had the remarkable ability to create a poised and stylish image in every setting. Those skills served her well in various jobs working in clothing and furniture stores, funeral planning and even helping to manage a counseling office. Her ability to coordinate outfits was particularly helpful in her Weekenders clothing and Park Lane jewelry businesses.

Cheri will always be a beloved big sister to her siblings. She was a loving and faithful wife and mother. She cherished time with her grandchildren. Her eyes brightened every time she described them. Her faith directed her core values in everything she did. Cheri is already missed by many loved ones in her life.

Cheri is survived by her three children Daniel of Lincoln, Dennis (Anneke) of Omaha and Christel; six grandchildren Elizabeth, Charles, Desmond, Elodie, Lorca and Felix; five siblings Bonnie Gross of Pierce, Darla (Steve) Weiland of Broken Arrow, OK, Karen (Delwin) Herbolsheimer of Pierce, Kay (Michael) Paulsen of Lee Summit, MO and Robert (Lecia) of Wentworth, SD and many relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Bob and Janie Summerer, husband David Thiel, parents-in-law Glen and Betty Thiel and many aunts, uncles and cousins.