Cheryl Oelkers

Cheryl Louise (DuBois) Oelkers, 76, of Lake City, passed away peacefully at home on October 19, 2025 after a courageous fight with cancer. Through it all, she was surrounded by her loving family.

Cheryl was born on June 24, 1949 in Red Wing, Minnesota to Raymond "Clint" DuBois and Doris (Malmquist) DuBois. She graduated from Red Wing High School in 1967 and married John Oelkers in 1968. Rumor has it, she enjoyed drag racing John's 1965 Pontiac GTO. Together, she and John had 2 children and later divorced.

In her earlier years, Cheryl was a homemaker and proudly raised the children. Later, she was a self-employed housekeeper until retirement.

Cheryl was a creative and witty short story author and had a few articles published for the Minnesota Conservation Federation. She spent countless hours on the pontoon catching fish in the backwaters of the Mississippi River. Cheryl enjoyed beating her grandchildren at video games, tending to her flower garden, and decorating her home for every season. Above all, she loved thrifting and never passed up a garage sale or a freebie at the curb. She also enjoyed going to the casino and trying her luck at scratch-offs with her granddaughters.

Cheryl was an active member of the Hastings and Red Wing Lions Clubs for many years. Her favorite part of volunteering for the Lions was organizing children's carnival games and prizes. She also found great joy in volunteering at Pass It On Thrift Shop in Lake City.

Cheryl's generosity touched many. Every winter Cheryl would round up warm clothes and donate those items to various charities. She stocked up on extra crayons and backpacks for kids starting school. She loved planning parties and attending family gatherings.

She carried snacks with her wherever she went, and her candy bowl was never empty. Family was very important to Cheryl and she will be deeply missed by many.

She is survived by her two children Lisa (Dave Hernke) Oelkers, and Brian (Brenda Boehmer) Oelkers; grandchildren Brittney (McCrae Olson) Wooding-Olson, Alyssa Neswold, Matthew Wooding (Francine Vasquez), Marcus Oelkers, and Sophia Oelkers; great-grandchildren Makenna and Lainey Neswold, and Lorelai and Finnley Hoven; her sister Fay (Dennis) Wallin; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family.

Cheryl is preceded in death by her parents and her beloved dog Luna.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Mahn Family Funeral Home Bodelson-Mahn Chapel on Saturday, October 25, 2025 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. A private family burial will be held at the Oakwood Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the Mayo Clinic Rochester Oncology and Palliative Care team, as well as Mayo Hospice for their outstanding care.