Cheryl Oliver

Cheryl Holzheimer Oliver, 78, of Juneau, AK, died surrounded by love on April 13, 2025. A memorial service will be held at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church on Sunday, May 18 at 10:45 am with a light lunch following. A Graveside service will be held on Sunday, June 1st at 2:00 pm at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Holloway, Minnesota. A celebration of life will be held on June 15th from 1-4 pm at Sandy Beach.

Cherie was born on October 15, 1946, the daughter of Ferdinand "Bud" and Hazel (Hallaway) Holzheimer. She was baptized on November 3, 1946, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Holloway, MN. She graduated high school in 1964. She went to Holloway High the first two years (they closed Holloway and she was always mad about it because people that went to Holloway all four years always mentioned that at reunions), and the Appleton High School the last two years. When she was younger, she went to the one room schoolhouse that had a hand-pump and a pot belly stove where her mother taught. She attended college at Moorhead, Minnesota for physical therapy.

Her mother told her she needed to get out of farm country after college graduation, since family farms were disappearing. She and a college friend drove to Seattle, and she got into and graduated from the Respiratory Therapist program. This is where she met Laura Ashley, who lives in Seattle and visited and helped tremendously not only recently but from back in the 70's.

While in Seattle, she met Glen Oliver. They were married on September 10, 1977. Around 1983, they moved to Juneau and she served as a respiratory therapist at Bartlett until her retirement after 30 years working long hours and on call. She was particularly good with babies after her NICU work in Anchorage. One of Cherie and Glen's retirement highlights was sailing the inside passage eleven times together (Cherie had an undiagnosed broken leg the first time). Jess and Mac, two beautiful redheads, were both born in Juneau and Cherie loved them profoundly. She was active at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church for most of that time, starring in Blizzard of Oslo and often accompanying worship on the organ.

Cherie will be missed by many as a woman whose beautiful smile was only matched by the warmth and brilliance of her spirit. In the midst of high-pressure emergency situations, she was a steady force-calm, competent, and always ready to act. Cherie was famous for the sight of her red hair whooshing down the hospital hallway-more than once arriving in time to make a critical difference. But her strength wasn't just in her skills; it was in her heart. That same compassion extended beyond the hospital walls, into her community and far beyond.

Cherie had a passionate and thoughtful worldview. Her vision for the world was one rooted in kindness, fairness, and understanding. And the truth is, by simply being herself, Cherie made the world a kinder and gentler place. Her presence, her spirit, and her enduring friendship touched the lives of so many.

She is survived by her husband Glen Oliver and her children Mackenzie and Jessica Oliver. She was preceded in death by her parents, stepmother Edna (Busse), brothers Richard and Robert Holzheimer, and sister Jean.

She was much loved by numerous nieces and nephews. She will be deeply missed, but lovingly remembered.