Cheryl "Cheri" Ann Gehrke

Cheri Gehrke (nee Borchert) of Mequon, found final peace surrounded by her loved ones on Monday, September 9, 2024.

Cheri was born in Milwaukee on April 11, 1964 to Robert and Joyce Borchert, joining older sister Debbie and later followed by her brother Rob. The family moved to Mequon where Cheri attended Lakeshore Middle School and later Homestead High School, where she was a 4 year letter winner as a member of both the tennis and pom-pom teams, graduating with honors in 1982.

At the age of 17, Cheri met the love of her life and husband of 37 years, Don, after crashing a party. They married in 1987 after attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison together.

A proud Badger, she was accepted into a highly competitive and newly created Physician Assistant program. A woman with a passion for helping others, she thrived in each step of her education journey and throughout her 25 year career after graduating with honors in 1986. She touched countless lives through her practice, beginning in family medicine at Family Health Plan, later Aurora, where she changed her focus to Dermatology. She eventually found the perfect fit at Northshore Dermatology in Mequon, where she finished her career.

While Cheri had an unending passion for her profession, the greatest joy in her life was raising her two children, Kaitlyn and Tyler. Don and Cheri raised their family in Mequon, where she encouraged her children to pursue their own passions just as much as she always pursued her own. As a mother, she perfectly blended both guidance with fun and parenting with friendship. Impromptu dance parties with her kids, countless matches of tennis with her father, planning and executing the perfect family vacations, decorating for every season and holiday, landscaping and tending to her grandma’s hydrangeas were a few of the many things that brought Cheri joy.

As a caring friend and dedicated to supporting those around her, Cheri knew how to make others feel truly special, even as she battled the significant impacts of her Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis. Personalized gifts, notes and cards demonstrated that she really knew the people that meant the most to her. These memories and mementos will be held in her loved one’s hearts for eternity.

Cheri is survived by her husband Don, children Kaitlyn and Tyler, parents Bob and Joyce Borchert, siblings Debbie (Guy) Gleisberg & Rob (Mo) Borchert. She is further survived by brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, cousins, and many friends.

We will honor Cheri with a Celebration of Life gathering on Sunday, September 29th at Shully’s (146 Green Bay Road, Thiensville), from noon to 4pm where we will be spending time sharing the many beautiful ways she impacted our lives. There will be opportunities at the event to share these memories in writing, or you may send virtually here at any time: kudoboard.com/boards/jGDVdNtW

In lieu of flowers, donations to the University of Wisconsin Foundation, Physician Assistant Fund are welcome at secure.supportuw.org/give (Fund number 132076550).