Cheryl A Kahler

Cheryl A Kahler, a small but mighty spitfire, passed away peacefully on October 13, 2026, after a very short battle with cancer. She was a spunky, bright light in a tiny package with a love for life. Cheryl loved her family, her friends and each one her students. Cheryl was passionate about her hobbies and always lived life to the fullest.

Cheryl was born to her loving parents, Lawrence and Crystal Campbell, in Vallejo, California on March 30, 1948. Upon the passing of her grandfather, George Burgess in 1951, the family relocated to Lincoln to reside with Grandma Nellie Burgess and remained a unique family with Grandma Burgess being the core “other parent”. Cheryl was always an excellent athlete and competed in many sports growing up. She was particularly good at gymnastics and softball when she was young. She continued her competitive spirit later on competing with men at a high level in ping-pong and yes, beating many of them. She was an excellent shuffleboard player and she and Steve had many wonderful memories playing shuffleboard together.

Cheryl married the love of her life, Steve Kahler, on April 3, 1980, and they shared 46 wonderful years together filled with love, laughter, and adventure. Whether they were in Nebraska or traveling across the country, they just loved spending time together. Their love for one another was evident everywhere they went. Their favorite trips often involved golfing and traveling across Nebraska hitting up the golf courses on the Nebraska Golf Passport. During their retirement years, they spent multiple months each winter in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They both enjoyed golfing down there and they loved the ocean breeze and the sounds of the waves crashing onto the beach. They have a United States map marked with push pins on every city and state where they have traveled. There are hundreds of pins and every state, except Delaware and Rhode Island, has been pinned.

Cheryl started college courses and completed her bachelor’s degree from Kearney State College in just three years while caring for two babies. She then went on to receive her Master’s Degree in Education from UNO, doing so as a single mother with two younger children, which was no small feat. Cheryl knew how to get things done.

Teaching was more than a career for Cheryl; it was a way to make a difference in the lives of children. She spent 35 years as an elementary school teacher, most of those years were spent teaching fourth grade. She spent her first 10 years teaching in Omaha with OPS beginning in 1970. After she married Steve, she moved to Lincoln and taught the next 25 years with LPS and spent most of those years teaching at Saratoga Elementary. She loved her students and made sure each one knew they were special. She wanted them to know she was there for them and even shared her phone number with students, some of whom called her at home. She was also known to have sat on porches waiting for parents to come home because they needed to hear how to help their child. Not attending a Parent/Teacher conference was not an option if Mrs. Kahler was your child’s teacher.

Some of Cheryl's happiest moments were spent outdoors with Steve at their cabin along the Blue River near Crete, Nebraska. For many years, they spent weekends there enjoying the peaceful sounds of the river and the birds chirping in the trees. She loved being on the river with Steve; it was her happy place. She didn't even mind having to use an outhouse! In fact, it was the cleanest outhouse you have ever seen and anyone would be okay using it.

Cheryl's green thumb and love for nature were evident everywhere, especially in her beautiful yard filled with flowers, trees, shrubs, birds, and pollinators. When she moved into the house that Steve had in Lincoln, the backyard was bare. Steve added a greenhouse for her to have a place for her many, many house plants. It didn’t take her long to put her green thumb to good use. Now the yard is full of trees, shrubs and flowers. Her yard attracted many pollinators and birds. Her favorite bird is just like her, it’s the small and mighty hummingbird. A beautiful little bird with amazing qualities. During their migration, she always had a couple of feeders up. One right outside her picture window in the bedroom so she could easily watch them. She was also very fond of monarchs and planted milkweed to attract them and would even raise a few caterpillars in butterfly cages, then release them once they emerged as butterflies.

Cheryl is survived by her loving husband, Steve Kahler;

Children: Wendy (Joe) Schuman, Kenny (Michele) Richards, Scott (Kate) Kahler, Dan (Megan) Kahler.

Grandchildren: Justin Johnson, Ryan Johnson, Gabe Thursby, Kiley Kahler, Mickena (Jack) Spahn, Laura Kahler, Thomas Kahler, Andrew Kahler, Jacob Kahler, Lucy Kahler, Max Kahler; step-grandchildren: Christie (Doran) Horsley, April McGeough;

Great-grandchildren: Callum Johnson, Noah Johnson, Ila Spahn; step-great-grandchildren: Kaydance Horsley, Carlee Horsley;

Sister: Georgia (Greg) Finch

Sister-in-laws: Steph (Chuck) Moore, Sister-in-law Rita Campbell

Preceded in death by parents Lawrence Campbell and Crystal Smith; step-father Don Smith; brother Ronald (Rita) Campbell

Memorial Service:

Thursday, November 5, 11:00 AM

Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home

6800 S. 14th St, Lincoln NE 68512

In keeping with Cheryl’s vibrant personality and love of life, please wear casual, colorful clothing. Flowers, birds, or Husker gear are all wonderful choices. Let’s celebrate Cheryl with color and joy!

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Cheryl’s memory. A few charities that she supported are Friendship Home, Lincoln Public Schools Foundation and Sunken Gardens.