Sherry Ann Toelle

Sherry Ann Toelle was born March 1, 1952, to the late Louis and Katherine (Coyle) Toelle of Council Bluffs, IA. After a hard-fought battle with cancer and heart issues, she passed away peacefully on October 8, 2023, in Atlantic, IA.

Sherry attended Holy Family, Woodland, and St. Patrick elementary schools. In 1970, she graduated from St. Albert Catholic High School in Council Bluffs. As a college freshman Sherry attended Regis College in Denver, CO. In 1974, she graduated from College of St. Mary in Omaha, NE, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Psychology. Sherry worked in the college bookstore and in a nursing home until she began her career as a Social Worker with the Iowa Department of Human Services in Atlantic, IA, from which she retired in 2010.

Sherry enjoyed spending two weeks every summer at her brother-in-law and sister’s farm in Honey Creek, IA, playing with nephews and nieces who were more like cousins due to their proximity in age.

Sherry traveled to 49 (missing only Hawaii) of the 50 states, Canada, and Europe. In her last trip, which she called “Walking in the Footsteps of My Ancestors”, she traveled to Holland (mother’s ancestors), Germany, and the Czech Republic (father’s ancestors). Sherry was very involved in Iowa politics, serving as Cass County party chair for 13 years. Sherry enjoyed photography; but genealogy and her dogs (Piper, Cassie, and Marty) were her obsession.

Sherry is preceded in death by her parents, John and LouAnn Drake (brother-in-law and sister), Kathleen (stillborn sister), Louis “Sonny” (brother), and John “Mike” Drake (nephew).
She is survived by her nephew Jim (Jane) Drake, niece Pam (Bruce) McIntosh, niece Jodee (Ruben) Soto, great nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Open visitation will be held on Thursday, October 19, 2023, from 11:00 to 11:30, with a funeral service at 11:30 at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic. A luncheon will be held in the reception room of the Schmidt Family Funeral Home following the funeral service.

A graveside service will take place at 2:30 p.m. also on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Council Bluffs, IA.

Memorials may be directed to the Sherry Toelle memorial. They will be designated to many of her favorite organizations and charities and may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.

Services are handled with the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Atlantic, IA.