Cheryl Ann Grusendorf

Cheryl Ann (Freeman) Grusendorf, 72, of Surprise passed through Heaven’s Gate after a long battle with cancer on September 9, 2019 just short of her 73rd birthday. Cheryl was born in Phoenix, Arizona on September 24, 1946 to Kathleen Haley (Lett) and Raymond Tilden Freeman, one of 2 daughters. Cheryl grew up in Glendale, Arizona, as did 2 generations before her, and graduated from Glendale High School. Cheryl married the love of her life Gary Allen Grusendorf on March 22, 1968 in Tempe, Arizona (Gary’s home town.) They had their first child Brent Allen on August 6, 1971 then Tiffenie Ann (Shane Rey) on May 31, 1975.

Cheryl was a home maker, which she referred to as “domestic engineer”. She did like to get out and worked in the school cafeteria part time. She cherished spending time with her family. She loved people, and get to-gethers’, in her home, where she prepared meals and entertained her family and friends. Cheryl told her family “if someone comes over, wake me up” right to the end. Cheryl liked to listen to the old country music and liked such artists as Celine Dion and Wynonna Judd. Cheryl also loved plants and flowers. She planted beautiful flowers in planters in her back yard, and all colors of roses in her front yard. She liked to study her family history and worked on genealogy. She also adored her shoes, purses, perfumes, and her jewelry. Cheryl held precious “ALL her mom’s things”, and spoke of her often reminding her children of her wishes concerning her grandmother and mother’s jewelry.

Cheryl’s passion was yard-sale-ing. Gary would sit with Cheryl as she mapped out their route. She and Gary would go out and she would buy anything that spoke to her heart. Her main thing to find was antiques, which filled her home; Gary said “she had an eye for the good things”. For the past 12 summers, Gary and Cheryl have traveled to Woodland Park, Colorado to yard sale and to get out of the heat. Cheryl also loved the outdoors. She and her family would go camping and fishing.

Cheryl will be missed for everything that she was and all that she did for her family and friends.

Cheryl leaves behind her husband Gary of 51 years marriage; her children Brent Grusendorf and Tiffenie Conlon; her son in law Shane Rey Conlon; and her only grandchild Ashlyn Rey Conlon.

She is preceded to the gates by her parents Ray and Kathleen Freeman; and her sister Betty Ray McBroom.