Cheryl J Wolf

Bloomington, IN

Cheryl J. Wolf, a nearly fifty-year resident of Bloomington, was surely and most deservingly welcomed into the Communion of Saints and the loving embrace of God on Saturday, September 6th, 2025, upon her passing, while holding her husband’s hand, at Hospice House in Bloomington, IN.

Cheryl was born on May 29th, 1947, in Detroit, Michigan, the first child of Stephen and Helen Banko. She and her four sisters and two brothers all grew up in Allen Park, MI. Cheryl attended St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School in Allen Park. She attended Holy Redeemer Catholic High School in Detroit, Michigan and graduated in 1965. She was quite capable and very active during her high school years. She loved participating in plays and musicals, her favorite being “Oklahoma”. She wrote for the school paper, “The Sentinel”, was on the Student Council and was a member of the National Honor Society. She was also a member of “The Future Nurses Club”, which would significantly impact her professional career.

After high school, Cheryl attended Henry Ford College where she obtained her R.N. in nursing in 1968. During that same period, she purchased her first car, a blue Volkswagen Beetle, which would be her favorite vehicle for the rest of her life! And, as a committed social activist during a time when there was significant unrest and rioting in many cities around the country, including Detroit, she and several other Caucasian female friends moved into an apartment in the heart of a primarily African American neighborhood in downtown Detroit. It was their hope in their own small way to bridge the strong divide between the white and Black communities. She told of how safe they all felt, as so many of their African American neighbors admired their genuine idealism put into action. As a young R.N., Cheryl’s first job was at the University of Michigan Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI.

Cheryl married her first husband, William (Bill) E. Wiethoff, on August 20th, 1971. Cheryl gave birth to their first daughter, Sarah, on January 19th, 1974. Shortly thereafter they moved to Staten Island, NY where Bill held a teaching position with Wagner College. The three of them moved from Staten Island to Bloomington, IN in 1977, as Bill took a new position teaching at Indiana University. Their second daughter, Karen, was born in Bloomington on November 11th, 1977. Until her final breath, Cheryl maintained a steadfast, unreserved and incontestable lover for her daughters!

In Bloomington, Cheryl and her family attended St. Paul’s Catholic Center on the campus of Indiana University. There Cheryl maintained her commitment to social justice issues through her involvement in the Peace & Justice Committee. She also headed up the program that provided coffee and donuts after each Sunday morning Mass.

While Cheryl did put her nursing skills to work for a while at the Indiana University Student Health Center, it was in 1981 that Cheryl landed her dream job. She interviewed for and won the position as one of the first R.N.’s to work with James (Jim) Laughlin, MD, as he began his new pediatric practice in Bloomington. She remained with the practice as it changed locations a couple of times and eventually expanded and evolved into Southern Indiana Pediatrics (SIP). During this same period, Cheryl taught Lamaze technique classes in her residence to expecting couples.

In 1994 Cheryl and her husband, Bill, divorced. And, subsequently, Cheryl took a marketing representative position with Ross Pediatrics. Cheryl’s region was the southwest quadrant of Indiana and involved calling upon pediatricians and their staff.

Cheryl then married Kimball (Kim) J. Wolf on May 20th, 1995. Kim adored her and was proud to tell many for the over three decades of their marriage that Cheryl was “the love of his life” and that marrying her was the best decision of his life.

As Cheryl maintained her commitment to Ross Pediatrics into the late 1990’s, she noticed that, increasingly, she was plagued with very significant fatigue. It was time for Cheryl and Kim to see their primary care provider, Matthew Caldwell, MD. With the aid of an MRI, Cheryl was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the beginning of 2000. She and Kim followed up with neurologist David Mattson, MD, an MS specialist, who determined, upon reviewing the MRI, that Cheryl had likely been battling MS for 10 years.

It was shortly after this that Cheryl happily returned to SIP to work again as a pediatric nurse. She continued to work there, with her wonderful colleagues, until the progression of her MS forced her to retire in December of 2008.

The real blessing amid all of this was the birth of their grandson, Nicholas, on June 11, 2003. From the moment of being present for his birth to Cheryl’s last day of life, Nick was a tremendous source of great joy and pride and the target of unbridled love, affection and respect. They rejoiced to watch him excel at sports, especially basketball, and achieve academic success and the admiration of many.

Cheryl and Kim loved being together more than anything. They appreciated travelling as much as allowable but really enjoyed just daily drives, especially if it included a coke from McDonald’s, and periodic trips through a nearby State Park. Getting together with family and friends was always a high point. Cheryl loved reading and music and keeping up with national politics. And they unabashedly enjoyed singing along to John Denver medleys, provided courtesy of Alexa!

For some thirty-five years Cheryl battled her MS and its growing symptoms with tenacity. She did so nobly and courageously and without self-pity. But, the confluence of medical challenges that hit her in the last three weeks of her life proved to be overwhelming, more than her exhausted, petite body could further tolerate. And, thus, this beautiful, amazing while unpretentious lady went to God, with whom she would finally know unrivalled peace.

Cheryl was preceded in death by her parents, Stephen and Helen Banko and her sister Ruth Banko and her brother David Banko (Spouse, Karen). She is survived by her husband of thirty years, Kimball Wolf; her daughters, Sarah Klaiber (Spouse, Chad) and Karen Wiethoff; her grandson, Nicholas Klaiber; her sister, Vanessa Cushieri (Deceased Spouse, Joseph); her brother, Steve Banko (Spouse, Carolyn); her sister, Christine Guerriero (Spouse, Michael); and her sister, Lisa Johnson (Spouse, Tim).

The family would like to thank her neurologist, Jamie Bales, MD; her primary care Provider, Priya Kumar, MD and all the medical specialists and providers who aided Cheryl throughout the years, especially in her battle with MS. We also thank the entire staff of Hospice House (Bloomington) for their exceptional attention to and care for Cheryl throughout the last week of her life. And her dearest friends who so generously visited and maintained vigil with Kim during the last days of her life.

A Celebration of Cheryl’s Life will be held for family and friends on Saturday, September 27th, 2025, beginning at 3:00 PM at The Fields, 1333 S. Fenbrook Lane, Bloomington, IN 47401. Casual attire is acceptable. The favor of an RSVP is requested. Please text Kim Wolf: 812-325-9163. Thank you.

In lieu of flowers, you are invited to consider contributing to either:

Riley Children’s Foundation, Riley Kids Fund # 2884; [email protected]

And/Or,

The National MS Society; nationalmssociety.org