Cheryl Jean (Strokes) Petrie

Cheryl Petrie, age 60, passed away peacefully on December 5th, at home surrounded by her loving family, after a long and courageous journey dealing with Frontotemporal Degeneration. Cheryl was born July 10, 1964 to Ronald and Judith (Collins) Strokes, and was a life-long resident of Lake Geneva, WI. Cheryl graduated from Badger High School before attending a few years at UW-LaCrosse and UW-Whitewater and eventually settling back in Lake Geneva where she and her husband Wayne built their life together.

Cheryl was known for her big heart, always offering a helping hand, and her unwavering strength. She was an incredibly loving wife and mother. Cheryl worked as a bank teller in her early married years and later devoted her life to helping Wayne manage and maintain their businesses, Petrie Motorsports and Petrie Truck Rental. Her greatest pride was raising their three daughters with the utmost care and attention.

Cheryl and Wayne became licensed foster parents shortly after being married. One of their first placements was Cassandra. They continued to foster other children for a few years, but ultimately worked towards Cassandra’s adoption, which finally came to fruition in 1991. Cheryl then gave birth to her first baby, Nicole, in 1994, and later welcomed Sydney home in 1998.

Cheryl enjoyed many hobbies and was talented in baking and cooking, athletics, and embroidery. She held a high jump record at Badger High School for multiple years after she had graduated, was a dedicated member of the PTO while her children attended the local schools, and in her free time she loved watching true crime tv, listening to her police scanner, spending time with her pets, and going to the casino with her friends and sister. In the years after her diagnosis she found joy in dancing and singing to 70’s and 80’s music, snacking on Swedish Fish, and creating new memories with her family. She has inspired many with her spirit and bravery.

Cheryl is survived by the love of her life, Wayne, married 39 years, her daughters, Cassandra (Jason Farris) Petrie-Farris, Nicole Petrie, and Sydney Petrie, and her three grandchildren, Emery, Jaxton, and Landry Farris. She is survived by her sister Michelle (Matthew Kinney) Kinney and her mother Judith (Stephen Miller) Miller. Cheryl was preceded in death by her father and brother, Ronald and Richard Strokes.

Cheryl and her family are proud to be participants in the University of Maryland Brain and Tissue Bank donation research project. Cheryl’s donation to this research will help bring further understanding of FTD, bringing closer a future with a cure, and allowing Cheryl to continue to give back to her community and other FTD families.

Funeral services will be held at Calvary Church in Williams Bay on Saturday, December 14th. Visitation will be at 10 am and funeral services will be at 11 am. Following services there will be a Celebration of Life at Studio Winery and Lake Geneva Distillery. For those wishing to bring or send flowers, Cheryl loved Calla Lilies; her family would appreciate being surrounded by them for these services.

Donations in Cheryl’s honor may be made to:

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Derrick Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the Petrie Family.

The Association for Frontaltemporal Degeneration
2700 Horizon Drive, Suite 120, King of Prussia PA 19406
Tel: 1-267-514-7221
Email: info@theaftd.org
Web: https://www.theaftd.org

The Time is Now
P.O. Box 1, Lake Geneva WI 53147
Tel: 1-262-249-7000
Email: info@timeisnowtohelp.org
Web: http://timeisnowtohelp.org/