Sherry Lee Finkbeiner Eagle Sherry Lee Finkbeiner passed away on March 21, 2013. Sherry was born August 10, 1941, in Battle Creek, Michigan to Gaylen and Emma (Torrey) Gilcher. She graduated from Springfield High School in 1959, studied at Kalamazoo College, and graduated from Western Michigan University. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Joseph, who died on February 26, 2013. They lived in Kalamazoo, Galesburg, Dimondale, and East Lansing before settling in Eagle, Michigan in 1979. She traveled extensively throughout Central America, Russia, Australia, China, Great Britain, Canada and the United States. Over the past few years, she lived part of the year in Placencia, Belize, where they had a second home and she operated her own kayaking outfitter business. She was an Ingham County Commissioner in the 1970's and worked for the Michigan State Democratic Legislature in the 1980's. Her focus was on protecting the environment. Sherry was strong and adventurous and maintained perseverance; most of all, her family meant everything to her. Sherry was preceded in death by her parents; father- and mother-in law Clifford and Monica Finkbeiner of Hastings; and her brother, Gill Gilcher of Battle Creek. She will be missed by her three daughters Toni (Michael) Cramer, Kim (Bill) Steinmann, and Joey Small, all of Kalamazoo. She adored her grandchildren: Eric, Emma, and Zachary Cramer; Hanna and Nicholas Steinmann; and Cayesha, Josephine, and Theodore Small. She is also survived by her brother Martin (Sue) Gilcher of Richland; sister Cheryl (Mark) Robinson of Battle Creek; sisters-in-law Carol Gilcher of Battle Creek and Carole (James) Seeley of Kalamazoo; and numerous nephews and nieces. She is also survived by son-in-law Christopher Small of Wacousta and Belize who was a treasured kidney donor along with Kenneth Hubbard, a good samaritan. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. James Conlon at 10:30a.m., Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Westphalia. Rite of Committal will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery. There will be no funeral home visitation. Memorial contributions can be made to the Gift of Life Foundation and family encourages everyone to consider being registered as an organ donor. Online condolences may be made to www.lehmanfuneralhomes.com.

Published in Lansing State Journal on March 25, 2013

Sherry Lee Finkbeiner Eagle Sherry Lee Finkbeiner passed away on March 21, 2013. Sherry was born August 10, 1941, in Battle Creek, Michigan to Gaylen and Emma (Torrey) Gilcher. She graduated from Springfield High School in 1959, studied at Kalamazoo College, and graduated from Western Michigan University. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Joseph, who died on February 26, 2013. They lived in Kalamazoo, Galesburg, Dimondale, and East Lansing before settling in Eagle, Michigan in 1979. She traveled extensively throughout Central America, Russia, Australia, China, Great Britain, Canada and the United States. Over the past few years, she lived part of the year in Placencia, Belize, where they had a second home and she operated her own kayaking outfitter business. She was an Ingham County Commissioner in the 1970's and worked for the Michigan State Democratic Legislature in the 1980's. Her focus was on protecting the environment. Sherry was strong and adventurous and maintained perseverance; most of all, her family meant everything to her. Sherry was preceded in death by her parents; father- and mother-in law Clifford and Monica Finkbeiner of Hastings; and her brother, Gill Gilcher of Battle Creek. She will be missed by her three daughters Toni (Michael) Cramer, Kim (Bill) Steinmann, and Joey Small, all of Kalamazoo. She adored her grandchildren: Eric, Emma, and Zachary Cramer; Hanna and Nicholas Steinmann; and Cayesha, Josephine, and Theodore Small. She is also survived by her brother Martin (Sue) Gilcher of Richland; sister Cheryl (Mark) Robinson of Battle Creek; sisters-in-law Carol Gilcher of Battle Creek and Carole (James) Seeley of Kalamazoo; and numerous nephews and nieces. She is also survived by son-in-law Christopher Small of Wacousta and Belize who was a treasured kidney donor along with Kenneth Hubbard, a good samaritan. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. James Conlon at 10:30a.m., Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Westphalia. Rite of Committal will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery. There will be no funeral home visitation. Memorial contributions can be made to the Gift of Life Foundation and family encourages everyone to consider being registered as an organ donor. Online condolences may be made to www.lehmanfuneralhomes.com.

Published in Lansing State Journal on March 25, 2013