Cheryl Zoch-Hodges

She was born to Edgar Zoch and Norma Rhoden in Fairbury, Neb., on Jan. 20, 1959. Edgar delivered Cheryl at home prior to she and her mother being taken to the hospital.

She resided in Abilene and Salina, Kan., during her adolescent years, later moving to California when she was 16.

A free spirt with a beautiful soul, she was always a fan of the arts and married an artist, Tim Judd, and together they had her first son, Craig Zoch, in 1981. After her divorce from Tim, she raised Craig as a single mother with the help of friends and family on a waitress’ salary.

Being a devout Lutheran, she taught Sunday School at First Lutheran Church and lived her life as close to God as possible. In 1992, she moved back to Kansas to live with her sister, Vicki. She pursued a master’s degree through Kansas Wesleyan University and later transferring to K-State. After a couple years of being a single mother who was working and traveling back and forth between Salina and Manhattan, Kan., she moved to Manhattan. In Manhattan, she met Ricky Hodges and together they had her second son, Carl Ricky Hodges.

Her sons remember her as being the best mom. Superman, Spider-Man, Batman are fun in the movies, but none of them hold a candle to our mom. Although she did play the Bionic Woman during a visit to Universal Studios Hollywood after being called out of the crowd because she was a knockout and a head turner for sure.

Even though she talked faster than a speeding bullet, she could be the best listener as well. She was stronger than a locomotive, able to fix the engine, and change the brakes, too. She took leaps of faith with a single bound and God was happy to have her.

Unfortunately, health issues got in the way of her finishing her master’s degree. When her mind started fighting against her and she probably felt like she lost everything when her son, Carl, went to live with his brother, Craig, she fought to get better. She was able to rise from those ashes like a Phoenix to reunite with her sons in Upper Michigan.

She helped out many times with Craig’s children and spent much of her later years with her partner in crime, her sister, Vicki Zoch. They weren’t robbing any banks or anything but they were inseparable as Thelma & Louise. My mom is my hero and I’m happy she got to be in the lives of her grandchildren, Maddy, McKayla, Landon, and Wesley. I really hope she knows how lucky we were for every second we had with her and I really wish I could have somehow cherished them more. I would give anything for one more day, but I will see her in our afterlife.

She is survived by her two sons, Craig Timothy Zoch, and Carl Ricky Hodges; her siblings, Edward Zoch, Lawrence “Larry” Zoch, Vicki Zoch, Rodger Zoch, and Charles “Chaz” Zoch.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Delvin Zoch, and James “Jim” Zoch, who await her in heaven.

A Celebration of Cheryl’s Life will be held from 1 until 3 p.m., on Saturday, March 7, in the common room at 5828 Chapin St. Bldg B, Florence, Wis.

An additional family celebration will be announced at a later date.

The family request that donations, flowers, and sympathy cards be sent to her son, Carl Hodges, at 3016 N. Milwaukee Ave., Iron Mountain, MI 49801.

Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Cheryl’s family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com.

The family has chosen Jacobs-Lundholm Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Florence, Wis., to honor Cheryl’s legacy of life.