Sherrill Maye Svoboda

Sherrill M. Svoboda, 75, of Pender, Nebraska died on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at the Mayo Clinic in the Methodist Hospital in Rochester, MN. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Pender, with Pastor Charity Potter from the John Huss Presbyterian Church officiating. The visitation will be held on Wednesday from 3:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Pender. The family will greet friends on Wednesday evening from 5:00 until 7:00. Following the family greeting, there will be a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. Burial will be in the Rosehill Cemetery of Pender. Sherrill was born on April 14, 1937 in Potter, Nebraska, the daughter of Carl and Amy (Willeford) Larson. She was the youngest of six children, being born 55 minutes after her twin sister Merrill. She was baptized and was an active member of the Methodist Church in Potter. She grew up during the depression, "making their own entertainment" which included hiking, horseback riding, exploring, picnics, family and neighbor gatherings and traveling. Music was very important in her life. During High school she took voice lessons from Mrs. J.W. Johnson from Sidney, NE. Under her direction, she and her sister performed solos and duets for their final vocal recital before graduation in 1955. That fall she and her sister entered Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln. During her junior year Sherrill learned about the Radiology Technology profession. After graduation in 1959 she entered her radiology training. She found that she had a love of helping people. She stated: "That it has been my privilege for over 35 years to have met many interesting and appreciative people". It was also at this time that she met the love of her life, Ivan. They were married on September 29, 1963. After her cancer treatments, Sherrill recorded a music CD which has helped other people recovering from cancer. Through the years, the whole family was active in the John Huss Presbyterian Church in Thurston with Sunday School, Choir, Session and other church activities. She was, in fact, clerk of Session for a while. Sherrill is survived by her husband Ivan, sons: Kenneth and his wife Jolene of Pender, Ne, and Kevin and his wife Linda of Seward, NE, Daughter Kathy Svoboda of Omaha, NE, sisters: Ann Geu, and Merrill Alfs and her husband Ronald, brothers: Boyde "Bud" Larson and Calvin Larson and his wife Dorothy, grandchildren: Jonathan, Katelyn, Jessica, Kayla and Megan Svoboda. Sherrill was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Joyce (Mrs. John) Jensen and a brother-in-law, Henry Geu, and an infant sister Lois Ann.