Cheryl O'Brien

Cheryl Vonee O'Brien, 69, of Cedar Falls, died at her home, Sunday, October 15, 2017.  Cheryl was born September 5, 1948 in Cedar Falls, the daughter of Carroll & Vonee (Heil) Wogens.  She married Kenneth "Obie" O'Brien April 9, 2009 in Cedar Falls.  Cheryl taught mathematics and was a guidance counselor in Elgin, Illinois, Cedar Falls and Waterloo school districts.  She taught at the University of Northern Iowa then at Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa for 30 years.  She was a graduate of State College High School and received bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees from the University of Northern Iowa where she was the first candidate to receive an Ed.D from the university.  Cheryl was involved in various community and professional organizations including President of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Panhellenic Association, Cedar Falls Friends of the Library, Cedar Heights Parent Teachers Association, Black Hawk Leadership, LIFT (Leadership Investment for Tomorrow), Young Leaders in Action, and the Iowa Association for Teacher Education (IACTE).  She served on the boards of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Guild, Cedar Valley Hospice, Junior League of Waterloo-Cedar Falls, and Alpha Phi Alumni.

Survivors include her husband, Ken O'Brien; five sons, Blair (Anne) Budlong of Edina, MN, Ryan (Erin) Budlong of Ross, CA, Austin (Holly) Budlong of Minneapolis, MN, Scott (Laurie) Budlong of Indianapolis, IN, and Tim (Katie) O'Brien of Bettendorf; one daughter, Cate (Rene) Barger of Mt. Ranier, MD; six grandchildren, Cash Davis, Brooke Vonee, Tamsyn Marie, Luther Scott, Campbell Faye and Cooper Carroll Budlong.

Cheryl was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Charlene Davis.

Services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, October 19, 2017 at St. John Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls.  Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Montage Restaurant, 222 Main Street, Cedar Falls.  Condolences may be left at www.DahlFuneralHome.com.  Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Cedar Falls Public Library.