Cheryl E. Matthews

Cheryl E. Matthews, age 79, passed away on May 30, 2026 at Dove Healthcare West under the care of St. Croix Hospice. She was born in Oak Park, Illinois, on December 11, 1946, to Ray and Dorothy Stewart and was raised in the Northern Great Lakes area of Illinois. She graduated from Mundelein High School in 1964 and seven months after High School graduation, November 21, 1964, she married David Joel Matthews. She resided as a Navy wife in Millington, TN in 1965 and Jacksonville FL in 1966. She then returned to and remained in Illinois until 1975, when she moved from Libertyville to Gilman WI with her husband and three children. There they owned and operated a bar and café for two years. In 1977, they moved to Bloomer, divorcing in 1981. Cheryl resided in Bloomer until 1999 when she moved to Chippewa Falls. She and Dalyn Cronin operated a karaoke business from 1990 until 1998. After his passing, she owned and operated the business for an additional 10 years, retiring from this venture in 2008 and returning to live in Bloomer.

Involved in music since the age of six, she played piano, organ, flute and participated in vocal groups and concert band competitions in High School. At 16, during her sophomore year of High School, Cheryl was drafted to play flute in a college orchestra for a play. She was also asked to be a chapel organist at Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Illinois. She later played flute in the Chippewa Falls Community Band and accompanied church vocal and Bell Choirs for the United Methodist Church in Bloomer.

Cheryl was a member of the Bloomer United Methodist Church since 1983, serving as backup organist for a short time and later became the permanent organist for over 40 years. She also participated in the Bloomer Bell Choir, Bloomer Church Choir and New Auburn Community Choir.

Music, friends and family were her life. She loved being around people and looked for humor in everyday things. Laughter was instrumental to her, and she conveyed it often.

She is preceded in death by her parents: Ray and Dorothy Stewart; granddaughter: Jacqueline Kaska; one dear, life-long friend: Francine Reed of Round Lake Beach IL.

She is survived by three children: Debra Matthews, David (Kathleen) Matthews and Dawn (Tod) Brunner; one brother: Merritt (Marti) Pratt; niece: Victoria (Andrew) Premaza; nephew: Jason Pratt; nine grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren; numerous other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Olson Funeral Home in Bloomer followed by a lunch and fellowship at the White Pine Pavillion located at 9832 Co Hwy SS, Bloomer. Olson Funeral Home in Bloomer is assisting the family. Online condolences may be expressed at olsonfuneralhomebloomer.com