Cheryl Jo Junkin

Celebration of Life Services for Cheryl J. Junkin will be held on Monday, August 3, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the Hope Lutheran Church in rural Smithfield, Nebraska with Pastor Tim Glendening officiating. Inurnment will be held at the Highland Cemetery at Bertrand, Nebraska at a later date.

Cheryl Jo Junkin, 58 years of age of Kearney, Nebraska, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, July 28, 2015, after a courageous battle with cancer. Cheryl was born June 3, 1957 in Lexington, Nebraska, one of five children born to Douglas and Joan (Bunsen) Lilyhorn. She received her primary education and graduated from Bertrand High School with the class of 1975.

On September 11, 1975 she was united in marriage to Neil Junkin at Hope Lutheran Church in rural Smithfield, and to this union three daughters were born: Jennifer, Natalie, & Jessica. The family made their home in Bertrand, where Cheryl was employed at Becton-Dickinson in Holdrege for 26 years before her and Neil engaged in the ice cream business.

In addition to her love of ice cream, Cheryl thoroughly loved and had a special touch with plants and flowers. She also enjoyed spending as much time as possible with all twelve grandchildren. Cheryl loved to bless those around her with her special talents of sewing, cooking, singing, baking and cake decorating. Her smile was contagious. Above all she has left a tremendous legacy of love to her husband, children, grandchildren, family, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Douglas Lilyhorn; three siblings: Michael, Daniel, and Tara; grandparents: Harlan Sr. and Mary Lilyhorn and Walter and Edith Bunsen.

Cheryl leaves to celebrate her life; her husband of almost 40 years, Neil Junkin of Kearney; three daughters: Jennifer Weikel and her husband, Gary of Bennington, Nebraska, Natalie Hagan and her husband, Shawn of Kearney, and Jessica Junkin and her fiancé, Brandon Applewhite; twelve grandchildren: Tyler, Jacob, Micah, and Eli Weikel, Kayten, Keelie, and Kenna Hagan, Dajen, Brandon Jr., Akeil, Kapone & Anika Applewhite; her mother, Joan Lilyhorn of Bertrand; one sister, Karen Lundy and her husband, Rick of Bertrand; her mother-in-law, Dorene Junkin-Booker and her husband, Eldon Booker of Holdrege; two sister-in-laws: Mary Lewis and her husband, Ron of Gothenberg, and Beth Langenberg and her husband, Brian of Bertrand; five nieces, two nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Memorial Book Signing will be held on Sunday, August 2, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. with the family greeting 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Cheryl's honor and kindly suggested to the Hope Lutheran Church or Bertrand Lions Club.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.