Cheryl Merical

CHERYL MERICAL

Montezuma

Cheryl Lynn Merical, 52, of Montezuma, passed away April 15, 2014, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, surrounded by her family. A memorial service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, April 26, at Valley Church, 4343 Fuller Rd., West Des Moines.

Memorials in Cheryl's memory may be made to any of the four options: (1) find and go to a church of any denomination for one service in Cheryl's memory; (2) donate the dollar amount you would have given us to a local church of your choice; (3) anonymously purchase the meal for the next military service person(s) that you encounter; (4) find a truly nice home for one of our cats.

Cheryl was born July 12, 1961, to Carl and Gloria (Allsup) Merical in Dexter, Iowa. She attended school in Grinnell and graduated from BGM High School in Brooklyn with the class of 1979. She later earned a B.A. degree and M.A. degree in special education from the University of Iowa. Cheryl was currently employed for Heartland AEA. She also proudly served her country in the Army and National Guard for many years.

On Jan. 22, 2005, she was married to Sean Casey in New Jersey.

She is survived by her husband, Sean Casey of Montezuma; her father and stepmother, Carl and Joan Merical of Montezuma; her mother, Gloria Merical of Adel; one sister, Crystal (Steve) Tommingo of Clive; two brothers, Tony (Jodi) Merical of Stuart and Tim (Carol) Merical of Grinnell; one stepsister, Robyn Berardo of Grinnell; her parents-in-law, Jim and Jodie Casey of Philadelphia, Pa.; one sister-in-law, Brandi Casey of Philadelphia; as well as 15 nieces and nephews and their families.

Cheryl was preceded in death by her grandparents and her beloved pets.

The Smith Funeral Home of Grinnell is handling arrangements.