Sheryl "Sherry" Van Pelt

Sheryl “Sherry” Kay Van Pelt went home to be with her Lord and Savior on July 16, 2023 with her family by her side under the care of Iowa River Hospice after a short battle with cancer. She was born on November 18, 1944 to Harry and Angeline Duhn in the Eldora, Iowa hospital. Her family was currently living in Abbott Crossing, Iowa, then moved to Cleves, Iowa and then Ackley. At the age of four she attended a one-room country schoolhouse until she finished third grade. By the age of eight the family moved to Wellsburg, Iowa. Here she attended another one-room schoolhouse for one year. She then went on to attend school in Wellsburg where Sherry graduated at the age of 17 from the Wellsburg High class of 1962. After graduation she attended the Iowa School of Beauty in Des Moines, Iowa and graduated from there in May 1963. She received her Christian education from the West Friesland Presbyterian Church in Ackley, Iowa. Once Max and Sherry were married they first attended First United Methodist Church and later became members of First Baptist Church (n/k/a Journey Church) in 1977 until their deaths.

After Sherry graduated from ISB she worked at a couple of beauty shops in Des Moines. She also volunteered her time at several nursing homes in styling hair for the elderly which she so enjoyed. However, she decided to give up that occupation due to medical issues and went to work for the Equitable Life Insurance as a secretary in Des Moines. Shortly after working there, she had major health issues and had to have surgery and move back to her hometown of Wellsburg, Iowa. After her recovery she worked for a short while in a beauty shop in Eldora, Iowa, but then decided to move to Marshalltown with a friend to look for work. Sherry worked for a short time at Marshalltown Manufacturing and at a hardware store as an accountant. During this time in Marshalltown she met the love of her life, Max Van Pelt.

On December 19, 1966 Sheryl Duhn married Max Van Pelt. Max was inducted into the Army in August 1966. He was deployed to Germany in January 1967. The first of March, 1967 Sherry joined him where they lived until Max’s discharge in August of 1968.

When they returned to Marshalltown, Max and Sherry started their family and had themselves their three MVP’s, Michelle, Mark and Michael. She was a housewife to their three children until the third child was in the second grade. She then had a couple of jobs through Manpower (where she received an award for excellence) working at Fisher Controls until getting work through Iowa Department of Human Services for 15 years, retiring from there when she decided to go into daycare business with her daughter. At the same time she and Max were property managers for Crestview Apartments. She also became very close to the elderly people and helped them out in many different capacities. She truly loved spending quality time with the residents there.

Sherry was a volunteer for the AWANA Children’s group at First Baptist Church for 21 years. This brought great joy to her life and she enjoyed working with children and building their faith in God. She always said children tell it like it is. Sherry was also a deaconess, led Bible studies alongside her husband, did volunteer work, sang in the choir and was involved in many prayer groups at her church. Both were involved in all aspects and volunteered wherever help was needed. Before working outside the home, Sherry volunteered through the school system, taught Brownies and volunteered almost 15 years to the Marshalltown Little League concession stand. Her other favorite hobby for quiet time was making beautiful quilts for her family and friends and teaching her craft of sewing to her granddaughter, Sydney. Sherry also wrote a book called “Dear Conner, a Grandmother’s Pain” which was named after her grandson Conner who passed away and later granddaughter Jacy who followed two years later.

Family was everything to Sherry. Her children would describe her as being a loving, caring and compassionate mother who was always there for them. She adored and loved her grandchildren deeply and attended all of their activities with Max by her side. There wasn’t a basketball, football or dance recital they missed. Their grandchildren always knew their grandparents would always be there no matter what and they were truly blessed with two of the greatest grandparents God could bless them with.

Sherry is survived by her three children: Michelle (David) Grewell, Mark (Heather) Van Pelt and Michael Van Pelt. Also three grandchildren: Cole and Sydney Grewell and Jacob Van Pelt. She is also survived by one sister Le Ann (Dennis) Brewer of Texas, brother Harold (Julie) Duhn of Eldora, brother Lynn (Deb) Duhn of Wellsburg, sister-in-law Sheila Duhn of Ankeny, several nieces and nephews along with a long list of extended family. She was preceded in death by her husband Max Van Pelt, her parents Harry and Angeline Duhn, her in-laws Richard and Florence Van Pelt, her brother Alan Duhn and grandchildren Conner and Jacy Grewell, as well as a niece Jill Brewer.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, July 20 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at Mitchell Family Funeral. Services for Sherry will take place on Friday, July 21 at 11:00 A.M. at Mitchell Family Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery. Memorials may be made in Sherry’s name to an organization of choice. For additional questions or condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

- Lovingly written by the family