Cheryl Lee Krueger

Cheryl Lee Krueger, 74, of New Albany, Ohio, passed away Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Smith's Mill Health Campus.

Cheryl was born January 1, 1952, in Bellevue, Ohio, to William Arthur Krueger and Audrey Jean (Warner) Krueger. Cheryl graduated from Bellevue High School (1970) and Bowling Green State University (1974). She was a member of Jersey Baptist Church.

Cheryl L. Krueger was a visionary entrepreneur, beloved business leader, generous philanthropist, and passionate advocate whose life influenced generations through her work, her faith, and her unwavering commitment to helping others succeed.

Raised on a farm near Bellevue, Ohio, Cheryl learned the values of hard work, perseverance, family, and service at an early age. Cheryl's love for baking began as a child when their grandmother, Elsie, lived with them. Elsie taught Cheryl everything there was to know about baking and Cheryl embraced it. She often credited her grandmother, who taught her to bake and inspired a lifelong love of creating something special for others. Those lessons would become the foundation of a remarkable career.

After graduating from Bowling Green State University with a degree in business and fashion merchandising, Cheryl began a successful career in retail, gaining valuable experience in merchandising, marketing, and customer experience. Yet she dreamed of building something of her own.

In 1981, Cheryl and Jim started Cheryl's Cookies. Alongside her college roommate Carol Walker, Cheryl opened the first Cheryl's Cookies store in Columbus, Ohio. Armed with family recipes, determination, and an entrepreneurial spirit, she transformed a small cookie shop into Cheryl & Co., one of America's most recognized gourmet gift and food brands. Under her leadership, the company grew from a single storefront into a nationally recognized enterprise serving millions of customers through retail stores, catalogs, e-commerce, and corporate gifting. Cheryl and Jim sold the company in 2005. After building the company into an industry leader, Cheryl retired and eventually parted ways with the business she had founded, leaving behind a legacy that helped shape the gourmet food gifting industry.

For many entrepreneurs, such an accomplishment would have marked the culmination of a remarkable career. For Cheryl, it was simply the beginning of a new chapter.

In 2018, Cheryl started C.Krueger's Finest Baked Goods, one of her proudest achievements. Combining decades of experience with an uncompromising commitment to quality, Cheryl built the company around the principles she valued most—premium ingredients, small-batch baking, exceptional customer service, and beautifully crafted presentation. Under her leadership, the brand earned national recognition for its innovative packaging design and gift presentation, receiving numerous national awards while establishing itself as a leader in premium gourmet gifting. More than a business, C.Krueger's Finest Baked Goods reflected Cheryl's enduring pursuit of excellence and her belief that every gift should create a lasting and memorable experience. C.Krueger's is still in business today.

Throughout her career, Cheryl remained committed to innovation and leadership. She was widely recognized as one of Ohio's most accomplished business leaders and was named Working Woman Magazine's National Entrepreneur of the Year. Her expertise, vision, and leadership earned her numerous honors and opportunities to serve on corporate, nonprofit, educational, healthcare, and civic boards.

Her service included positions on the Board of Directors of Bob Evans Farms, Inc.; Heartland Bank; The Ohio State University Board of Directors; The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute Foundation Board; The Ohio State University Medical Center Board of Directors; the Board of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce; the Federal Reserve Bank Fourth District Board; The Ohio State University 4-H Foundation Board; and The Ohio State University Human Ecology Advisory Board. She also proudly served as an Honorary Board Member of the Seal of Ohio Girl Scout Council.

Among her many honors were the YMCA Woman of Achievement Award, The Ohio State University Business Person of the Year Award, the Business Integrity Award from the Greater Columbus Better Business Bureau, and the prestigious James Champion Award from The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. Yet Cheryl measured success not by awards received, but by lives impacted.

Despite her professional accomplishments, Cheryl believed that success carried a responsibility to give back. Philanthropy was woven into every chapter of her life and career. Through countless charitable partnerships and community initiatives, she helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for organizations and causes that strengthened families throughout Ohio and beyond.

Among the causes closest to her heart were the Tressel Family Fund, Cookies for A's, student scholarship programs, military support initiatives, and local food banks serving families facing hardship. She was also a passionate supporter of the CHIPS Program, a groundbreaking partnership between private business and public education that was recognized by the State of Ohio as an outstanding example of collaboration and community impact. Through her church, Cheryl participated in mission trips to Appalachia, helping families in need and living out her faith through service to others.

The loss of her business partner Carol to cancer, the passing of her father, and her son's battle with cancer fueled a lifelong commitment to supporting cancer research and patient care. She became a tireless advocate for The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, helping raise awareness, hope, and critical funding for patients and families facing cancer.

In 2023, Cheryl publicly shared her Parkinson's disease diagnosis, choosing to face the challenge with the same courage, transparency, and determination that defined every chapter of her life. Rather than retreat from public view, she used her voice to raise awareness about Parkinson's disease and inspire support for research seeking better treatments and a cure. Through C.Krueger's Finest Baked Goods, she partnered with the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, helping generate awareness and financial support for the fight against Parkinson's disease. By sharing her journey, Cheryl offered hope and encouragement to countless individuals and families facing similar challenges.

Perhaps no one summarized Cheryl's impact more powerfully than former Ohio Congressman and Governor John Kasich, who wrote in his book Courage Is Contagious:

"We need thousands more business owners with Cheryl Krueger's courage, creativity, compassion and sense of civic duty."

Yet those who knew Cheryl best will remember far more than her business achievements. They will remember her generosity, her mentorship, her optimism, and her willingness to invest in others. She freely shared her knowledge with aspiring entrepreneurs, encouraged people to take risks, and believed deeply in the potential of those around her. She was known for planting seeds of possibility, helping others discover talents they did not yet see in themselves, and inspiring people to pursue their dreams with courage and confidence.

Faith was the foundation of Cheryl's life. Through seasons of triumph and challenge alike, she trusted God's plan and encouraged others to do the same. She often reminded friends and colleagues to "let God be God," believing that faith, perseverance, and gratitude could carry people through even life's most difficult moments. Her favorite hymn, The Old Rugged Cross, reflected her deep devotion and unwavering belief in God's grace, love, and promise of eternal life.

Cheryl often said that success was never simply about business. It was about people. It was about creating opportunities, building relationships, serving others, and leaving the world better than you found it.

Her legacy lives on in the companies she built, the causes she championed, the communities she strengthened, and the many lives she touched through her kindness, leadership, faith, and generosity. She leaves behind a remarkable example of what can happen when vision is paired with determination, compassion, and an enduring belief in others—a life that stands as a testament to faith in action, servant leadership, and the extraordinary impact one person can have on the world.

Cheryl leaves behind a son, Cavin Wesley Green of Dallas, Texas, and a dear brother, James William (Dianne) Krueger of Naples, Florida.

Cheryl was preceded in death by her parents Bill and Jean Krueger and her sister, Judy Boyer.

The family would like to thank Mindy Foster, her long-time caregiver and friend, who was always there for Cheryl whenever Cheryl needed her and whenever the family needed her.

Visitation will be held Friday, June 19, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Schoedinger Funeral Home, 1051 E. Johnstown Rd., Gahanna, OH 43230, with a memorial service to follow at 5:30 p.m.

Graveside services will take place at Sandhill Cemetery in Bellevue, Ohio, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the "Cheryl Krueger Memorial Fund" c/o The Columbus Foundation, 1234 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43205, or by emailing Steven Moore at [email protected].

Well done, good and faithful servant.