Sharol "Sherry" Foxhoven

Sharol Irene “Sherry” Foxhoven passed away on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, due to complications from a stroke. She survived a few precious days giving family a chance to spend valuable time with her. Nurses would enter her hospital room and marvel at the number of people crammed in, sharing memories.

Sherry was born February 26, 1936, in a boxcar in Grand Island, Nebraska as Shirley Haas. Yes, an actual boxcar kid. After an intervention by social services, she and her three siblings were placed in an orphanage. She was adopted by Velma and Walter Brown and raised on a farm between Oshkosh and Chapel, Nebraska.

The story of her adoption was a favorite of Velma’s. As the story goes, Velma visited the orphanage and saw this beautiful little black-haired, two-year-old girl. Upon returning to the farm, Velma heard a voice in the middle of the night that told her “Go get that little girl”. She returned to the orphanage the next day to start the adoption process. In those days, there were no home visits or extensive interviews. You went in front of a judge and if he felt you were fit, they sent the child home with you. Walter didn’t even attend the hearing as he was home farming. Another often-told piece of this story concerns Sherry arriving to meet Walter for the first time. Walter picked her up and she asked, “Are you going to be my daddy now?” From that moment on, she had him wrapped around her finger. In her 40s, Sherry reconnected with her three siblings for a heartwarming reunion. She stayed in touch until each of their passing.

Sherry went to a one-room school near the farm and attended high school in Lodgepole, NE. Next was Kearney State Teacher’s College. Which led to a career she LOVED. She taught at a few small schools but spent most of her career at Crook and Caliche teaching kindergarten and second grade. She adored her students, and they adored her. Her young students loved that she dressed for every holiday. We think she owned more Holiday sweaters than anyone ever. Even the residents of the retirement home where she lived for her last couple of years always commented on her beautiful sweaters.

She met her husband of 66 years at a dance in Sidney. She and Duane Foxhoven were married on March 30, 1959. After living on a few smaller farms around Crook, they settled on the Condon Ranch to raise their four daughters. Upon Sherry’s retirement from teaching, they moved to Sterling with Duane continuing to commute to the Ranch to farm for several more years.

Sherry stayed in touch with her Crook friends but expanded her circle into a wonderful group of bowling ladies and the Friday Fun Ladies Club. She continued to join them for Friday lunches even after her bowling days were done.

Sherry is survived by her husband Duane and her daughters Renae Foxhoven (Degan), Jalonna Jo Helmberger (Randy), Lisa Meier (Bryan), and Tiffany Hays (Chris). She was a wonderful grandmother to twelve granddaughters. After that slew of girls, things reversed giving her three grandsons and twelve great-grandsons. She also leaves behind three adorable great-granddaughters. She was preceded in death by her parents Velma and Walter Brown and her biological sisters and brother.

A memorial service will be held in Sterling in July so family from far away can join. Cards can be sent to Duane at 3730 Longwood Ave, Boulder 80305. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to Hospice of Plains, 302 N. 9th Ave., Sterling, CO 80751.