Sherry Margenthaller
February 14, 1937 – November 27, 2022

Sherry Verdene Craig Margenthaler, age 85, of Naples, FL, formerly of Moline, IL, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, November 27, 2022 at 6:55 a.m after enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving with family including both her beautiful great-grandchildren.

Sherry was born on February 14, 1937, in Pinckneyville, IL, to parents Milton Keller Craig and Margaret (Shute) Craig Lueker. On September 6, 1958 she married her high school sweetheart, Donald Russell Margenthaler at the United Methodist Church, Pinckneyville, IL. Growing up in Pinckneyville, Sherry was surrounded by family. She loved to reminisce about the adventures her sister and cousins experienced in Presswood Hills where many family members lived. Sherry’s heart was broken when she experienced the death of her father at age 12. It took some time but to help the healing process she and her sister, Peggy, welcomed the addition of George Lueker into their lives. Sherry grew to love and call George “Dad”. The icing on the cake was that she was able to welcome George’s beautiful little boy Doug, and baby sister, Dana into her life and call them her own family. George and Margaret created a family that always remembered and honored Milton and Mildred and the rest was history.

Sherry attended Pinckneyville High School and there she met and fell in love with Donald.

During Don and Sherry’s marriage they lived in Springfield, Massachusetts while Don served in the US Air Force. They moved to Des Moines, Iowa to work for John Deere for the rest of his career. They moved to Moline, Illinois in 1965 where they raised their two children. During her 50 plus years in the Quad Cities, she finished her bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University, worked at United Township High School and Blackhawk College. She served in many booster and PTA positions and as a Sunday School teacher to countless young people at what is now Riverside United Methodist Church. She loved young people and was a wonderful listener when her children’s friends showed up at her kitchen table. She loved her nieces and nephews and provided safe haven to anyone who needed her. Once asked her proudest volunteer accomplishment, she said, “I don’t know if the word would be proud, more a privilege.” She continued to express her love of time spent with Miss Betty and YouthHope. Sherry, together with Donald and many volunteers began the process of transforming and magnifying the scope of this vital Christian Ministry in the Quad Cities.

She also was involved with Riverside Methodist Church of Moline, United Methodist Women, Junior Service League, Quad City Arts, King’s Daughters just to name a few. Another source of great happiness was who she fondly called her “Bridge Buddies” and PEO Chapter KT with whom she served in multiple officer positions.

Survivors include: one daughter, Jacki Margenthaler (Max) Guinn of Naples, FL; one son, Russell Douglas (Leann) Margenthaler of Moline, IL; five grandchildren, Joshua (Briana) Guinn of Dallas, TX, Emily Guinn of Chicago, IL, Zac Margenthaler of Fulton IL, Caitee Margenthaler of Waukee, IA, and Nate Margenthaler of West Des Moines, IA; two great-grandchildren, Lucas and Eliana Guinn of Dallas, TX; one brother, Doug (Betty) Lueker of Nashville, IL; one sister, Dana Epplin of Mt. Vernon, IL; one brother-in-law, Jack Margenthaler of Naples, FL; special and very loved caregivers, Karin Avallone, Noelline Civil, and Sabine Siede, all of Naples, FL; and special friend, Theresa Jackson Stewart of Nashville, TN.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; her parents; sister and brother-in-law, Peggy and Gene Bost; and sister-in-law, Mary Beth Margenthaler.

Visitation will be Friday, December 2, 2022 from 9:00 am until 11:00 am at Beaucoup Baptist Church, Pinckneyville, IL.

Funeral services will be held immediately after at 11:00 am with Reverend Milton Bost (Sherry’s nephew) officiating. Interment will be at Mueller Hill Cemetery, Pinckneyville, IL.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorials be made to a family designated memorial, YouthHope of the Quad Cities, Riverside United Methodist Church or a charity of your choice.

Pyatt Funeral Home, Pinckneyville, IL has been entrusted with the arrangements.

For additional information, please visit Pyatt Funeral Home’s website: https://www.pyattfuneralhome.com/obituary/sherry-verdene-craig-margenthaler