Cheryl Ann Kluender

life story

gifted artist, devoted wife and mother, and fierce competitor

Cheryl never stopped dreaming of a brighter future. May we carry forward her boundless imagination, her fierce love, her artistic flair, and her hope for the beautiful world she so eagerly anticipated.

About Cheryl

Cheryl Ann Kluender, a gifted artist, devoted wife and mother, and fierce competitor, was born on December 17, 1946, the first of three girls. She fell asleep in death on October 5, 2026.

Cheryl married James (Jim) Kluender on October 22, 1966, and they had two children, Renet' Phillips and Shawn Kluender. She loved her children deeply.

Cheryl loved to travel, and she was always on the move, quite literally. She lived in Two Harbors, Hastings, St. Paul, Lakeville, Rosemount, and Northfield, Minnesota; on Lopez Island, Washington; and in Mesa, Chandler, and Maricopa, Arizona. This past year, she made fond memories with Shawn and Renet' visiting Arizona towns such as Sedona, Tombstone, and the artist colony of Tubac. She especially loved Big Nose Kate's Saloon in Tombstone!

Cheryl was drawn to art from childhood and delighted in every medium. She sewed, felted, worked with clay and charcoal, painted in watercolor and acrylics, made jewelry, and more. She even painted a friend's floor to look like stone. When she sold her first painting, she bought herself a pair of real gold earrings, a proud treasure marking the start of her career as an artist. She also sewed custom clothes for Jim, Renet', and Shawn, and she spoiled her nieces with fancy Barbie clothes on par with Bob Mackie designs. Everything she touched became beautiful.

Cheryl held various jobs. She managed Art Sign, which helped her pay for her art supply addiction, and she also sewed those funny balloons with waving arms that attract customers. Her favorite job, though, was teaching art. She loved to mentor others in color theory, composition, and whatever new technique she was learning, and she spoke fondly of her “HeART Girls." Even after she left Minnesota for Arizona following her diagnosis, they kept in touch. When her nieces were young, they spent part of each summer with her, and she always had a fun art project ready. Those summers were a treasured time for all of them.

Cheryl was also the ultimate game player, and she stayed competitive to the very end. She often played Rummikub and Bananagrams, and whenever she won, she loved to say, "I won and I even have brain cancer," rubbing it in that she had outwitted her challenger. Her competitive streak started young. As a child, she won second place in her town's ice skating race. When people were awed, she confessed that only one other girl had entered because the day was so bitterly cold. Seeing the lone competitor, her dad pushed Cheryl and her younger sister Joanne onto the ice because "they were bound to win something!" And win they did, Cheryl coming in second and Joanne third.

She had a remarkable memory for details and for the people in her life. She treasured getting to know people and remembered what they shared with her even decades later. She loved Elvis, had an insatiable sweet tooth (especially for chocolate), and was always looking for a good deal. The family joked that Temu might file for bankruptcy now that Cheryl is no longer a customer.

Her imagination was just as remarkable. She often came up with things she thought should have been invented. Her "big invention," which she talked about almost daily, was adult bibs, perfect for eating in the car, in a recliner, or in bed! Another recent "invention" was a window into her brain so her doctors could monitor whether the cancer was coming back. She also dreamed that someday she and all her friends would have big, beautiful birds to carry them quickly around the world, where they could visit new lands and make new friends together.

Cheryl's contagious smile and sense of humor never left her. After her diagnosis, she loved to tell people she had always wanted "a smoking hot body," so she had chosen cremation! As a final selfless act, she donated her body to further medical research.

Cheryl also had deep faith. Her love for Jehovah God and her trust in his promise of a future resurrection kept her strong from the moment of her diagnosis. She was confident that she would fall asleep and wake up in a new world with perfect health, surrounded by her family and loved ones (Isaiah 26:19; 33:24).

Cheryl was deeply loved, and she touched so many hearts. There is not enough space here to tell of all her wonderful qualities.

As we prepare for her memorial service, we would love to hear your stories, too. If Cheryl touched your life, made you laugh, or left you with a special memory, please share it with us at MyCherylStory@outlook.com. We look forward to hearing your stories and celebrating the remarkable life of a woman who was so very loved.

memorial service

Celebration of Life

October 24, 2026

3:00 pm CST

Meeting ID: 885 6230 8395

Passcode: artist