Cheryl Lynn Burkart passed away in her sleep and was pronounced on Monday, August 26, 2024 at 01:40 PM in her Aurora Colorado home. She was born in Staunton, IL on September 23, 1953 to Harold (Chico) Banovz (deceased September 5, 2011) and Shirley (Gall) Banovz. She was married to Peter H Burkart on May 25, 1991 at St. Norbert's in Florissant, MO.

Cheryl served in the U.S. Navy (USN) as a Occupational Therapy Technician-Hospital Corpsman for four years from April 26, 1974 and was honorably discharged in February 23, 1979. While in the USN, she had numerous accomplishments: completed in Sept 1974 at the Great Lakes Naval base in IL the Naval Hospital Corps School; Physical/Occupational Therapy Technician school NRMC at Oakland, CA in Nov 1976; Physical/Occupational Therapy Technician HSETC school, NRMC at Portsmouth, VA in Mar 1977. In 16 Oct 1978, Cheryl was promoted to rank HM2, E5.

Following her honorable discharge, she moved back to St. Louis and attended Washington University where she achieved a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupation Therapy - she was ranked as number one in her graduating class. She was an Occupational Therapist (OT) at a private business in South city St. Louis and St. Elizabeth Hospital in Granite City, IL.

In 1992 we bought our first Samoyed puppy; we named him Nemo. Cheryl with lots of patience and determination got Nemo through confirmation obedience class. Within a year Cheryl joined the Samoyed Club of America and has been a member ever since.

In 1997, she left the OT world to explore crafts when she started an online business called "Off My Rocker" where she produced vintage and primitive crafts for roughly six years.

In recent years, Cheryl rekindled her love of gardening and found a new hobby - bird watching. With the help from a downloaded app, she learned the different birds that visited her bird oasis on her patio. Her favorite was a little humming birds that she named Matilda. This little humming would fly right up to Cheryl and look at her like as if she were asking where's my food. Since her passing Matilda hasn't been around.

Cheryl leaves behind her husband Pete; mother Shirley Banovz of Livingston, IL; sister Candy Warren and her husband Robert, Livingston, IL; brother Michael Banovz Edwardsville, IL; sister Shelly Loveland and her husband Timothy; nephews: Robert Warren and his daughter Alissa; Anthony Warren.

In memory of Cheryl, donations can be made to either American Heart Association and/or the Arthritis Foundation.

Following the memorials, her ashes will be spread at a location in the mountains. She often stated how she would never get tired starring at the mountains and she would go out of her way on a drive home just so she can see them.