Sheri Anne (Sextro) Heilman was born May 31, 1964, in Harlan, Iowa to Dave and Anne (Allstot) Sextro, and passed on to be with her Lord on Nov. 7, 2021, after battling a rare form of cancer.

Following graduation from high school, Sheri attended the University of Northern Iowa and Drake University where she achieved her Bachelors and Masters degrees in English and Educational Administration. While teaching and coaching in the Titonka School District, Sheri met the love of her life, Carl Heilman. On July 27, 1990, Carl and Sheri were joined in holy matrimony. Of the many things Sheri did in her life, she took most pride in being a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend and teacher.  

While living in Iowa, Carl and Sheri welcomed the first of their four children, Brooke Anne Heilman, who was born June 15, 1991. A job opportunity led the Heilman family to Arizona, where they would reside for the next 10 years and would welcome their second daughter, Alissa Roi Heilman, born Feb. 17, 1994. It was while in Arizona that Sheri made the move from classroom teacher to school principal. God’s next plan led the Heilmans from Arizona to Robinson, Ill., where they welcomed their third child, Scott Benjamin Heilman, on Oct. 8, 2003. It was their time in Illinois that found the Heilmans extremely busy as both Sheri and Carl filled their roles as school administrators and parents to a growing family. As was their habit, a final move to Great Bend, Kan., brought the arrival of another baby, when Maximus Otis Heilman was born on Jan. 8, 2008. Sheri and Carl often joked that they would need to stop moving to different states.

Left to honor Sheri’s memory are her husband, Carl; daughters, Brooke Heilman, and Alissa Buenger (Chris); and sons Scott Heilman and Maximus Heilman. Additionally are her parents Dave and Anne Sextro; two sisters, Susan Oberg (Steve), and Beth Namanny (Mike); and brother Ryan Sextro (Melanie). As well, Sheri leaves behind her mother in-law, Marianne Vigen Stanard; a brother in-law, Darren Vigen, and sister in-law Darice (Vigen) Fink; five nieces, Jaime Hanson (Matthew), Taylor Namanny, Logan Namanny, Taegan Fink, and Terra Fink; three nephews, Ethan, Lincoln, and Beckett Sextro; and great nephew, Kaden Hanson. Those who have gone on before to make a place for Sheri include, maternal grandparents, Cecil and Marcella Allstot; paternal grandparents, Frank and Lorine Sextro; Sheri’s father in-law and partner in crime, Otis Vigen; a nephew, Chris Oberg; two uncles; and four cousins.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, at Bryant Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at 10 a.m., at Encounter Church, First Assembly of God, on Nov. 12, 2021. Cremation has already taken place and Sheri’s remains will be inurned in a burial plot at a private family service at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to be made to Scott and Max Heilman educational fund or the Central Kansas Dream Center, in care of Bryant Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Bryant Funeral Home

1425 Patton Road

Great Bend, KS  67530

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Nov. 10, 2021