Cheryl Jean Bielke

Obituary

Cheryl Jean was born February 11, 1950, at the Community Hospital in Jackson, Minnesota, the daughter of Melvin “Swede” and Erma (Franks) Swenson. She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Alpha, Minnesota, and was confirmed in her faith at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Dunnell, Minnesota in 1964 by Pastor Pudell. Cheryl attended Dunnell Grade School from grades K – 8. In 1964 she started her high school years in Sherburn, Minnesota, and graduated there with the Class of 1968. In 1969, she began her studies in the Tabulating Technician program at the Mankato Vocational School. It was there she met and dated Arlen Bielke.

On November 21, 1970, Cheryl was united in marriage to Arlen Bielke at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Dunnell, Minnesota, by Pastor Brockelmann. Their union was blessed with two beautiful daughters, Kia Renee and Gwen Marie. Arlen and Cheryl farmed south of Stewart in partnership with his parents, Alvin and Mamie Bielke. They shared 46 years of marriage.

Cheryl was an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Stewart. On Sundays, Cheryl and Arlen enjoyed going out to eat, and going on drives. She loved to play Pinochle, and she and Arlen had belonged to a Pinochle card group since the 1970s. She enjoyed flower gardening, watching and feeding the birds, and shopping. She loved baking her chocolate chip cookies, and sharing with family, friends, and neighbors. Cheryl had a special love for her family. She loved her parents, sisters, husband Arlen and his family, and her daughters and her sweetheart grandchildren, Paige and Mark.

On Monday evening, November 28, 2016, Cheryl passed away at the Glencoe Regional Health Services Hospital, at the age of 66 years. She will be remembered as a friend to many, by her school friends, church friends, card club friends, square dancing friends, and many more. Blessed be her memory.

Cheryl is survived by her:
Husband, Arlen Bielke of Stewart;
Mother-in-law, Mamie Bielke of Gaylord;
Children: Kia Adams and her Husband, Andre, of South Dakota, and
                Gwen Jacobs and her Husband, Sam, of New Ulm;
Grandchildren: Paige and Mark Jacobs;
Sisters: Deb Blom of Estherville, Iowa,
             Connie (Dave) Cain of Sherburn, and
             Dawn (Dave) Unterburger of Ham Lake;
Nieces, Nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Cheryl was preceded in death by her Parents, Melvin and Erma Swenson, Father-in-law Alvin Bielke, Brother-in-law, Don Blom, by both sets of Grandparents, and by aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.