Cheryl Ann Smith

Cheryl A. Smith, age 77, of Pocahontas, passed away on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at her home in Pocahontas, Iowa.

Cheryl Ann Baak was born on July 3rd, 1948, in Ute, Iowa. She was the daughter of Leslie and Leone (Hinrichsen) Baak. She grew up on a farm near Charter Oak, Iowa. Cheryl attended Lutheran School in Charter Oak and went on to graduate from Charter Oak High School in 1966. She attended Nettleton Business College in Sioux City, IA. After graduating she moved to Omaha where she worked as a secretary for several years. In the summer of 1967, she met her future husband, John. Cheryl and John were united in marriage on Sept. 20, 1969, at St. John Lutheran Church in Charter Oak, Iowa. The couple moved to Denison, Iowa where Cheryl worked as a secretary for Farmland Foods. She continued working there after they moved to Schleswig, Iowa, where John started his first teaching job. After the birth of their first 2 children, James and Jennifer, they moved to Pocahontas in 1976, which would become their permanent home. Cheryl worked for AEA and Vocational Rehabilitation until the birth of their 3rd (and favorite) child, Joshua, in 1978. She then ran a daycare out of their home until all her children were in school. After the kids were all in school, she went to work for Hudson Law Firm as a legal secretary, where she was employed for 30 years, retiring in 2013.

Cheryl was an active member of the St. Peter Lutheran Church where she served in multiple roles and activities. She was President of the Pocahontas Women's Club, former President and active member of the Pocahontas Garden Club and served on the Pocahontas Community Hospital Board. Cheryl led a very active life and enjoyed traveling, working in the garden, quilting, having coffee with friends, and especially watching her grandkids' activities.

Cheryl is survived by her husband of 56 years, John; children, James (Julie) Smith of Indianola, Jennifer (Derek) Overton of Indianola and Josh (Deb) Smith of Urbandale; brothers, Larry (Nancy) Baak and Arlyn Baak; sister-in-law, Charlotte Baak; her nine grandchildren, Gavin Smith, Grace Smith, Gillian Smith, Jackson Overton, Camryn Overton, Ellison Smith, Emery Smith, Elin Smith and Ensley Smith, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Leslie and Leone Baak, her oldest brother Darrell Baak and her sister-in-law Susan Baak.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to St. Peter Lutheran Church in Pocahontas, Iowa.