Cheryl Storms
Cheryl Storms of Eagle River, WI, passed away surrounded by family at her home on October 12, 2025.
We will remember her warm, kind heart, uncomplicated nature, and her support for the underdog.
Cheryl loved to cook and discover exotic new recipes, spend time with her grandchildren, and attend cultural events. She was an avid gardener, music aficionado, lover of animals and flowers, and an outdoorswoman who adored spending time as a part of nature: camping, fishing, boating, snowmobiling, birdwatching, and basking in the energy of the forest. Her life's motto came from her father's store: The Spirit of the Outdoors lives on.
Born February 6, 1944, Cheryl inherited her lifelong love of the outdoors from her parents, Jerry and Lucille Novak. Cheryl spent her childhood in Riverside, Illinois, and she and her parents enjoyed many lakeside adventures in Chicago and the Lake Geneva area.
Always having a penchant for connecting, Cheryl was active in student and community life at Riverside-Brookfield High School and Northern Illinois University (NIU). It was at NIU that she and Ken met and fell in love. After graduating, they wed and established their first home in northern Illinois.
While Ken earned his Master's, Cheryl supported them as a 4th-grade teacher in the Belvidere public schools. After a few years of town living, they needed more country in their lives and laid down roots west of Rockton. Their new home was a launch pad for many new adventures, including deep involvement in the Sports Car Club of America, organizing and hosting the legendary Cranberry Christmas craft fair, and yearly summer family camping excursions to Northern Wisconsin and the UP. There, she instilled in their children, Mike and Peter, a love of the great outdoors.
Once the kids were adolescents, Cheryl returned to teaching, earned her Master's Degree in Special Education from Rockford College, and served as Special Ed. Teacher at Shirland School until retirement.
In the early '90s, Ken and Cheryl established Camp Storms in Eagle River and quickly became enmeshed in their new community. After retirement, they moved full-time and have been active in the Carpenter Lake Association, Drinking Liberally, various book clubs, and Sno Eagles Snowmobile Club, where Cheryl served as Secretary and, for 13 years, established and organized Sno Eagles "Saturday Night Out", a club member outing to learn about and support the area's many restaurants/resorts and gather for camaraderie.
Cheryl is survived by her husband, Ken; sons, Michael (Jennifer), and Peter (Juliana); beloved grandchildren, Megan and Brenden; and her adored pets and grandpets Stormy, Kromer, Benson, Plumeria, Bergamutt, Oreo, Cooper, Oliver, Ted, and Bailey.
A Celebration of Life will take place Spring '26, where we can raise a glass of her go-to drink: a Brandy Manhattan with cherry juice and three olives.
Instead of flowers, we ask that you remember Cheryl with a gift to the Forest County Humane Society or WXPR Public Radio.
Arrangements by Gaffney-Busha Funeral Home, Eagle River. Online condolences may be expressed at gaffney-busha.com PAID OBITUARY
