Cheryl Ann Habr

Cheryl Ann Habr was born in Beatrice, Nebraska on September 22, 1947, the second of Stanley Jr. and Anna Mae Habr’s three children. After a brief time in Greenleaf, Kansas the family moved to Grand Island, Nebraska where she grew up and graduated from Grand Island High School with the Class of 1965. She headed off to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln where she studied education and loved working summers as a Girl Scout counselor at Camp Catron, graduating in 1969. After marriage and the birth of her son, Scott, she began a 30-year career with Lincoln Public Schools, much of it working with at-risk students on reading skills at the Bryan Learning Center. Early on, she earned a Masters degree in Education at UNL and added more credit hours to build her expertise as an educator. Cheryl’s quiet patience, gentle encouragement, and listening heart were so often the keys to earning her students’ trust and building an appreciation, if not a love, for reading that would carry them throughout their lives.

In retirement, she opened a new chapter on life and love in the rolling countryside north of Des Moines, Iowa. While Cheryl tutored students part time at a private learning center for a few more years, her happiest days were spent on nine well cared for acres with her longtime friend, Julie. Together they shared a love of nature and farm chores in the good company of dogs, cats, horses, a mini mule, and so many wild friends with feathers and fur who passed through their woods and pastures each season. Throughout her life, she treasured her longtime friends, cherished time with family, and had immeasurable love for her students and colleagues. A multiple myeloma survivor of more than a dozen years, she most recently put up a valiant struggle against encephalitis brought on by the shingles virus.

Cheryl is predeceased by her parents and special friends Scottie Englund and Susan O’Malley. She is survived by her friend, Julie Woline, brother David Habr (Deborah Habr), sister Carla Habr (Normand Brown), son Scott Hielen (Amy Hielen), steadfast nephew Chad Habr, five additional beloved nieces and nephews, countless wonderful cousins, and three adored grandchildren. A celebration of life will be held in the Spring, with a date and location to be shared later.