Cheri LaVonne (Beebe) Schwenke, 75, passed away Wednesday morning, September 14, 2022, at Cass County Memorial Hospital. She was born to William and Helen (Campbell) Beebe in Atlantic and was the second child of five. Cheri graduated from Atlantic High School and married Ivan on the 20th of June 1965, after a four-year courtship that began 4 years earlier at the Atlantic Skating Rink. To this union two children, Dean and Robin, were born.
The couple resided in Massena area and attended the Church of the Nazarene, where she played piano nearly her entire life. Cheri has always been known for her magnificent ability to play the piano with little effort… it was truly a God given gift. She loved old-time hymns and would even play the accordion on hayrides leading the verses to hymns all by heart.
In 1972 they moved the family to Colorado Springs, CO and Ivan began masonry work. They returned to Atlantic in 1979 and settled in Lewis in 1980 and resided there over 30 years. Ivan continued with masonry on the side while working at Walnut Grove and Cheri worked at HyVee in the deli/bakery for over 13 years. When her grandchildren were born, she slowed down and enjoyed them over the years. She helped watch over them and was so proud of their accomplishments. After Ivan passed in 2010, Cheri moved to Atlantic and has attended Grace Point Church (Evangelical Free) the last few years.
She was survived her daughter Robin Marchman (Mark Stanley) of Garwin, IA; and son Dean (Donna) Schwenke of Atlantic; grandchildren Brandon Pahl of Atlantic, Bradley (Devan)Schwenke of Bellevue, IA, Darrian Schwenke of Savanna, GA, Teah Marchman and Ethan Marchman both of Ames. She also has four great-grandchildren; Cienna through Bradley and Devan Schwenke; Vincent, Dax and Willow through Teah Marchman. Cheri is also survived by her brothers Ronald (Vicki) Beebe of Oklahoma City, OK, and Richard Keller of Atlantic; sister Gladys Martin of Atlantic; sisters-in-law Alda Schwenke of Omaha, NE, and LaVonne Morgan of Atlantic.
Preceding Cheri in death were her father William Beebe and mother Helen Keller, husband Ivan Schwenke, sister Pam Mennes, all her brothers-in-laws Irvin, Charles, and Leroy Schwenke, sister-in-law Loretta Denny; nephew Todd Beebe, and nieces Ann Schwenke, Christine Watson, Linda Protsmann, Lynda Juhl and Connie Juhl.
Cheri will always be remembered for her amazing piano talent and I’m sure she’s playing beautiful music for Jesus in heaven.
Memorial service will be held at 11 AM, Saturday, September 17, 2022, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic. The family will greet friends and family from 10 am until the time of services at the funeral home. Memorials can be made in her name and left or mailed to the funeral home at P.O. B0x 523 – Atlantic, IA. Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Atlantic is caring for Cheri and her family at this time.
