Sheryl Lynn Lytle

Sheryl (“Sherry”) Lynn Lytle, age 65, was called home to the Lord on March 9th, 2026 following a battle with metastatic lung cancer.

Sherry was born in Harlan on June 30th, 1960, to Ed and Gloria (Andersen) Mills, and she was raised on her family’s farm east of Harlan. Growing up, Sherry was deeply involved in church and 4-H, where she first met the love of her life, Gaige Lytle. Gaige and Sherry were married on July 14, 1979, and together they made their home on their farm southwest of Harlan, Iowa. There, they raised four daughters, farmed corn and soybeans, and cared for livestock ranging from cattle to hogs to sheep. Their beautiful love, affection, and devotion toward one another only strengthened with time.

Sherry kept very busy as a farm wife and mother, always willing to do whatever was needed and caring faithfully for everyone around her. As a farm wife, she might be found bringing the 4pm ‘lunch’ out to the field, helping move pickups wherever they were needed, or spending long hours mowing the expansive lawn on their beautiful farmstead. As a mother, Sherry never missed an opportunity to support her children--faithfully present at every performance, event, and milestone, often serving as a volunteer leader or capturing hours of memories on videotape. In 2026, Sherry was honored as the Iowa Mother of the Year.

Sherry remained deeply active at Immanuel Lutheran Church throughout her life. She sang in the choir and served as cantor for many years, volunteered with the kids and youth, participated in cherished Bible studies with dear friends, and faithfully served as a Stephen’s Minister. In all things, Sherry showed up with a servant’s heart, seeking God’s guidance and trusting Him to equip and lead her. Through her life of service, she also blessed many beyond her own family, both in how she loved people as well as how she showed that love and care for them. To know Sherry was to know how deeply and genuinely she loved you and cared for you. She lived out her faith daily, loving and serving others for God’s glory and truly exemplifying what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Sherry is survived by her beloved husband of 46½ years, Gaige; her 4 daughters and 13 grandchildren: Angie (Chris) Trailer of Minneapolis, MN and their children Kailey, Ethan, Lana, and Jameson; Molly (Patrick) Kieper of Hatley, WI and their children Mackenzie and Naomi; Jana (Adam) Wiblishouser of Omaha, NE and their children Kason, Gaige, Thatcher, Simon, and Whitney (John) Hunt and great-grandchildren Audrina, Braxton, Aliyah, and Mia; and Amy (Scott) King of Pelican Rapids, MN and their children Ryan and Emma.

She is also survived by her parents and parents-in-law Ed (Shelia) Mills and Vivian Lytle; her siblings and siblings-in-law, Denise Broveak, Hollie Mills, Kevin (Lori) Mills, Jim Bruck, Mark (Phyllis) Lytle, and Joni (Chris) Larsen; as well as 18 nieces and nephews and their families.

Sherry was preceded in death by her mother, Gloria Mills; her father-in-law, Randall Lytle; her brother, Wade Mills; her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Julie Bruck and Bill Broveak; and her grandson, A.J. Wiblishouser.

Visitation and the funeral service will both be held at Sherry’s church of over 50 years, Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan, Iowa. Visitation will be on Thursday, March 12th from 5-8PM, and the funeral service will be on Friday, March 13th at 10:30AM.

Memorials will be directed to: Immanuel Lutheran Church, Harlan, in honor of Sherry’s lifelong faith and over 50 years of membership at Immanuel; Iowa School for the Deaf, in honor of Sherry’s deaf grandson, Gaige; and the South Sudanese Refugee Camp, in honor of a mission and cause dear to Sherry’s heart for years.