Cheryl Rose Bruner

Cheryl R. Bruner, age 70, of West Des Moines passed away on June 22, 2023 from the effects of cancer.

She was born July 16, 1952 in Waterloo to Leonard and Donna (Sullivan) Wagner. She graduated from Columbus High School and the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in computer science.

Cheryl is survived by her husband of 41 years, Brian Bruner; her son Matt (Christine) Bruner of Huxley; her daughter Lindsey (Mark) Woodcock of Raleigh, NC; and the cutest, smartest grandchildren in the world: Jensen Bruner, Finley Bruner, Theo Woodcock, and Lydia Woodcock. Cheryl’s grandchildren are the primary reason she fought cancer so fiercely. In addition, she is survived by her brother Randy (Cindy) Wagner of Thousand Oaks, CA; sister Julie (Dick - deceased) Wilson of Duncan, SC; brother Bruce (Patty) Wagner of Waukee; brother Greg (Angie) Wagner of Shueyville; and her aunt Mary Ann Fabricius of Fond du Lac, WI; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.

Cheryl was known for being extremely responsible and organized. She achieved the coveted work/life balance by working from the Bruner home four decades before working-from-home was common. A part-time programmer for Pioneer Hi-Bred for many years, she was once told by her supervisor that she completed more work than many of her full-time colleagues. In addition to working and raising two children, both of whom she was tremendously proud, she could often be counted on to help others.

She was an excellent seamstress, and over the years sewed numerous dresses for weddings and other special occasions for various relatives, performed alterations in exchange for her brother’s handyman services, participated in Dress a Girl Around the World - Des Moines, and sewed many of the wall banners and vestments for Sacred Heart Catholic Church when she and Brian were parishioners.

She believed in fostering strong neighborhood connections. While living in the Greenbrier Estates neighborhood, Cheryl organized the inaugural Fourth of July celebration and parade which turned into an over-30-year tradition that is still going strong. Most recently, she was a homeowners’ association director for her Bridgewood North neighborhood. She was also active in Plainview Community Club and the St. Francis of Assisi’s funeral ministry committee.

She was a voracious reader of fiction and loved attending Yoga in the Park. Cheryl was a fan of the band Chicago and the rock-opera Jesus Christ Superstar, of which she attended seven onstage performances. Cheryl never turned down a strawberry-rhubarb or chocolate dessert and she loved everything about lilacs, especially the scent.

A celebration of Cheryl’s life and Mass will be held Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church (7075 Ashworth Rd, West Des Moines) with a lunch to follow. There will be no graveside service as Cheryl wished to donate her body to Des Moines University for medical education.

Cheryl requested any memorials be directed to the Alzheimer's Association or Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as those two diseases affected people she cared about.