Cheryl A Hartill

Cheryl Ann Hartill, 79, of Lowell, Indiana—formerly of Beecher, Illinois—was called to her heavenly home on November 12, 2025. Born on June 24, 1946, to Arthur and Vera (née Boehner) Oldenburg, she attended Zion Lutheran School and graduated from Beecher High School. She married Traver E. Hartill at Zion Lutheran Church on June 18, 1977. A proud Beecherite, Cheryl never missed a chance to share that she grew up—and spent nearly her entire life—in Beecher, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Traver; her parents; and an infant brother, Richard A. Oldenburg. Cheryl is survived by her children: Becky (Arnie) Cooper, Barb (Ron) Lea, and Nick and Dan Hartill; her sister, Chris (Brian) Knapp; and her grandchildren: Samantha (Ben) Hickel, Miranda (Aaron) Malone, Olivia (Connor) Searcy, Rebekah, Logan, Jackson, and Emma DeHaan, and Ava, Audrey, and Owen Lea. Her blessings multiplied with the arrival of nine great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends who loved her. Cheryl was truly one of a kind with a memorable sense of humor. To know her was to know her steadfast belief in these truths: coffee is best enjoyed black, Christmas is a lifelong season, and above all, Jesus is her Savior. She had a remarkable gift for crafting, could style any room with warmth and creativity, and delighted in covering her walls with photographs of the people she loved most. She cherished sharing stories from her childhood, especially memories of her dad’s milk route. Her love of movies and an extensive DVD collection meant she was always ready for a movie night. She loved walking on the beach, digging in the garden, snowy days, being pregnant, JC Penny, anything purple, jelly toast, a good Rueben sandwich, oatmeal cookies with walnuts, eating pizza, quoting movies, and spoiling her “granddogs”, Tucker and Sully. Above all, Cheryl’s greatest joy was being “Granny.” With her magical touch, she could soothe the fussiest baby, build the coolest living room forts, and host the most delightful tea parties. Most importantly, she taught her grandchildren, and all who knew her, to never stop believing in the magic and miracle of Christmas. Cremation rites have been accorded. Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Hack-Jensen Funeral Home, with a memorial service to follow at noon. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice. In honor of Cheryl’s deep love for Christmas, guests are warmly invited to dress for the season—including (and especially) those wonderfully tacky Christmas sweaters that would have made her laugh.

Tributes

Cheryl A Hartill

June 24, 1946 - November 12, 2025