Cheryl Mead

C heryl M ead, age 78, of North Platte, peacefully passed away surrounded by her family on November 21, 2023.

Cheryl, the daughter of William and Esta LaRue, was born September 19, 1945, in Lincoln where she grew up.  After graduating from Lincoln Northeast High School she attended the University of Nebraska for a year then went to the Lincoln School of Commerce.  She graduated in June 1967 with a degree in accounting then worked at Hende Accounting Firm.

In one of her accounting classes, Cheryl met Charles "Chuck" Mead.  The couple wed on September 29, 1967, at St. Mary's Cathedral in Lincoln.  When their daughter Cindy was born in 1968, Cheryl became a stay-at-home mother.  A year later in 1969 Chris was born then Jason came along in 1977; all three children were born on the 29th of their month.

The family moved from Lincoln to Omaha in 1973.  Cheryl then started working as a paraprofessional in Special Education at Oak Valley Elementary.  She worked in Special Education for over 30 years and was a Job Coach.  She also worked part-time for Walmart Pharmacy.

Cheryl was a kindhearted, loving woman.  She was a member of Mary Our Queen Catholic Church in Omaha and St. Patrick's Catholic Church in North Platte.  She took communion to the homebound and helped teach catechism to children.  Cheryl will always be remembered for her love of family, compassion for others, her kind heart and beautiful soul.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and son-in-law, Tom Flodman.

Cheryl is survived by her husband of 56 years, Chuck; their children, Cindy Flodman of Grand Island, Chris Mead (Stefani Drew) of Mesa, AZ, and Jason Mead (Danielle) of Cheyenne, WY; grandchildren, Lindsey Mapes (Jared), Jared Flodman, Whitney Mead and Tucker Mead; great-grandchildren, Marcus and Calvin Mapes; her brothers, Lowell Gene LaRue (Wanda) of Fredericksburg, VA, and Lanny LaRue (Cindy) of Thornton, CO; and her nieces, nephews and other family.

Service will be Tuesday, November 28, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in North Platte.  Rosary Service will begin at 10:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. with Celebrant Father Jonathan Sorensen.  Burial will be 2 p.m. on Thursday, November 30, at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Lincoln.

Visitation is Monday with family greeting from 5-7 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements.  Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the family for a bench and tree at Cody Park or to Callahan Cancer Center.