Cheryl Mickunas 1946 – 2023

Cheryl Lynn Mickunas, 77, took off for Heaven on November 18, 2023. Cheryl was born and raised in Ohio with her parents Harry and Ruth Miller and her older sister Diane. She graduated from Kent State University with a degree in English. She married her husband Terry Mickunas in 1968, and after moving to the Sebeka area in 1974, they settled onto their 120-acre hobby farm east of Sebeka in 1975. They raised their three children Harry, Jenna, and Jac on the farm and it is still cherished by them all.
Cheryl’s career included running the Sebeka DAC for a few years, working at a variety of schools as an English teacher, and much of her career was spent working with adults and children connected with special education. Cheryl and Terry also provided long term foster care for two children along with respite care for a handful of people along the way.
How to describe Cheryl in a few paragraphs? It doesn’t seem possible, but here we go:
Cheryl LOVED horses her entire life. She started riding at a very young age and simply never quit. She rode her horse Siko with some close friends just a few weeks ago on a beautiful fall day. She has had thousands of adventures all over the country on the back of one of her many horses and she has shared and instilled her passion for horses in many others over the years.
The only thing Cheryl may have loved more than horses is people. Her superpower was making new friends in absolutely any situation. At the doctor’s office, on a horse ride, in a hair salon in some random town in Oklahoma while traveling the country, or working at her most recent job as church greeter. Her children could do little but roll their eyes and think, “Here she goes again.” Oh my, did Cheryl have friends, and they loved her deeply. Cheryl’s love was as close to unconditional as is possible on this side of Heaven.
The only thing Cheryl may have loved more than people is her family. She loved Terry with a fierce and loyal love that was rooted in and maintained through her relationship with Jesus Christ. She and her sister Diane had wonderful times together and continued to have many long talks every week. Her three kids were the absolute joy of her life. Here is the neat thing: Cheryl was also the absolute joy of their lives.
You might have noticed a pattern of Love in Cheryl’s life. The only thing Cheryl may have loved more than her family is God. Her steadfast faith gave her a resiliency to navigate everything that came her way with a smile on her face and love and acceptance in her heart. She was a true servant to Him and there is no doubt she heard the words “Well done thou good and faithful servant” when she went to meet Jesus.
Those who were waiting in Heaven to greet Cheryl when she arrived were her parents, Harry and Ruth Miller. Those of us still sticking around are Terry, Harry, Jenna (Chris), Jac, Diane (Ed), and her cherished grandsons Grey and Kye. We will miss Cheryl, but we thank God for the years we had with her and trust in faith we will see her again soon.
We will be celebrating Cheryl’s life at her beloved church Grace Connection in New York Mills on Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 1 p.m. All are welcome. Please wear bright colors as Cheryl would love that!
Cheryl was always trying to find ways to help her church meet their next financial goal. In lieu of flowers we’d invite donations to be sent the pave the parking lot fund at Grace Connection church.11-22pd