Cheryl Ann Jakl

Cheryl A. Jakl, age 54, passed away Sunday at her home, surrounded by her loving family and dear friends. Cheryl was born August 16, 1951 in Green Bay, daughter of the late Mark and Florence (Boylan) Vande Hey. A 1969 graduate of Kaukauna High School, she also attended the Outagamie County Teacher’s College. On August 6, 1971 she married Tom Jakl in Sherwood. Cheryl received her Bachelor’s Degree in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 1975. She taught at Freedom Elementary School for ten years and then chose to take some time off to raise her family. During this time, she took evening courses to obtain her Reading Certification. In 1995 she returned to Freedom Elementary as a Title I reading teacher. Her many students and their parents can attest to her love for children and her devotion to and enthusiasm for teaching.

Cheryl was a very talented woman who enjoyed sewing and crafting of all kinds. Her family and her many friends have all received countless hand-made gifts over the years. She also enjoyed traveling, and her favorite destination was Disney World. Those who knew Cheryl knew her to be the authority of all things Disney. As if this were not enough, Cheryl was also a wonderful homemaker, cook, and gardener. Cheryl was proud of her Irish ancestry and heritage. She was an expert on her family tree, and just simply loved “being Irish.”

Cheryl is survived by her husband of thirty-four years: Tom Jakl of Kaukauna; her two loving children: Seth Jakl and Leigh Jakl; five brothers and sisters-in-law: Ronald (Sonja) Jakl of Utah; Ed (Cathy) Jakl of Kaukauna; Patricia Diny of DePere; Carol (LeRoy) DeValk of Combined Locks; and Jerry Jakl of California. Cheryl is further survived by her “sisters by choice”: Carolyn Muir of Kaukauna and Mary Van Rooy of Ashwaubenon; as well as by her good friends Janice Vanden Heuvel and Gene and Lin Collins, all of Kaukauna. Cheryl was preceded in death by her parents, a brother-in-law Nick Diny, a sister-in-law Marie Jakl, and good friends Dave Vanden Heuvel and Tom Van Rooy.

The funeral liturgy for Cheryl will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, January 14, 2006 at HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 309 Desnoyer Street in Kaukauna with Fr. Jack Mullarkey officiating. Entombment will be in Highland Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM and again Saturday at the church from 9:00 AM until the hour of the service. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund in Cheryl’s name is being established.

The family would like to extend their thanks to Mary Lawrence and everyone at the Freedom Area School District. We will never forget the kindness you have shown to our family.

Cheryl leaves behind many legacies. The greatest of these was her desire and ability to be a mother and to create a loving home for her children. For more than thirty years Tom received the wonderful gifts that their marriage brought. Over the years, many others came to be dear friends of Cheryl and her family. She always offered a shoulder to lean on and always seemed to have the right answer for her family and friends. We will all miss her friendship, her sense of humor, and her wisdom.

FARGO FUNERAL HOME
400 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Kaukauna, WI 54130
920-766-6200