Cheryl Karen (McCollum) Bertels, 66, of Leesburg, FL went to join our Lord Jesus in Heaven May 17, 2025, surrounded by love.
Born on May 17, 1959 in Peoria, IL and raised in East Alton, IL. Cheryl was the beloved daughter of the late Paul McCollum and Patsy (Eastep) McCollum. On September 27, 1996, she married the love of her life, Joe Bertels, who proceeded her in death in 2021.
Cheryl was a 1977 graduate of East Alton Wood River High School. She had a love of learning all she could. She loved to read about history, archaeology, myths and especially her Bible and any book on spirituality. She was incredibly smart, curious and her passion for knowledge was evident in her constant reading and her thoughtful conversations. Those who knew Cheryl will remember her sharp wit and how she would stand firmly in what she believed in. She had a natural ability to bring joy into a room, to make others feel seen and heard. She was kind to everyone and had a heart as big as this world. She would do anything she could to help those less fortunate. She had this calmness about her that would make you feel that everything would be ok. She also had a love for music. She could play the piano, spoons and picked around on the guitar and banjo. If there was a band playing, you could guarantee she would be on the dance floor.
Cheryl started babysitting at age 11 and went on to work at many jobs, sometimes more than 1 at a time. Most of her career was working in hospitals and doctor's offices. Her favorite job of all was working for TWA Airlines where she made lifelong friends.
She was proceeded in death by her parents, husband Joe Bertels, sister Paula McCollum and a brother Victor Kirk.
Surviving are her children, son Trent (Terry Smith) McCollum of West Virginia, daughter Melissa McCollum of West Virginia; her pride and joy granddaughters, Amyah McCollum and Lyrik Laws both from West Virginia; sisters, Jeannette Copley from Ohio, Stephanie (Mark) McClure, and Peggy McCollum, both from IL.; including aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and many dear friends.
Her absence leaves a space that cannot be filled, but her spirit and kindness will live on in the hearts of those she loved - and those who loved her in return.
A celebration date of her life is pending here in IL and a family burial will be sometime at the beginning of October. She will be laid to rest in our family plot next to her brother Victor upon the Appalachian mountain side in Ridgeview, West Virginia.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to the family during her celebration of life for funeral and burial expenses.
