Cheryl Wynne Karvonen

Sep 22, 1953 -

May 24, 2025

Cheryl completed her earthly journey on May 24, 2025. Cheryl was born on Sept. 22, 1953, in Longview, Wash., to William and Marge Karvonen. Not long after she was born, her family moved to Anchorage, Alaska. Cheryl grew up in a commercial fishing family, gillnetting in Cook Inlet during the summer on the boat, the Mary Lou, and living in Anchorage in the winters. Family vacations were driving the Alaska Highway in winter with sunny Mexico as the destination.

Cheryl trained to be a pharmacy technician and was proud of her extensive knowledge of the Physicians' Desk Reference. She traveled in her younger years, but Alaska was always her home. She loved her family, gardening and animals. Cheryl had a talent for playing piano and had an adventurous spirit. She suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident that left her severely disabled in 1986.

Cheryl's accident changed her life, but Cheryl would want to be remembered as loving, intelligent and loyal, and having the Finnish trait of sisu. As she requested, no memorial service is scheduled. Cheryl's final journey will be drifting down a mountain stream, flowing to the ocean.

Cheryl leaves behind her family, Karla Grasser and Boone Daniels, Robert and Terri Mielke; nephew, Warren Mielke; niece, Joy Warner, Joy's husband Walt Warner, and their children, Walter, Laura, William, Wyatt and Joyann. Her parents, William and Marge Karvonen; and sister, Sheila Karvonen, preceded her in passing.

Thank you to the Providence fifth floor oncology care team for their kind and compassionate care.

Anyone wanting to make a donation in Cheryl's memory may make it to Clear Creek Cat Rescue.