Cheryl Lee Nowlen

MADISON / FITCHBURG - Cheryl Lee Nowlen passed away at home surrounded by her family on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022.  She was born on Aug. 23, 1955, to Alfred and Betty (Schlecht) Slotten.  She grew up in the Schenk neighborhood on the eastside of Madison with her two older sisters, Jeanne and Nancy, who she adored. She has many good memories of her childhood with her parents, sisters and all the fun and games she played with the Schenk Street kids.

After graduating from high school, she married her husband, Curt Nowlen, at Luther Memorial Church in Madison. They looked forward to a long and happy life together. They had two healthy and active children, Curtis Jr. and Nikia. There was always a family dog or two that made the family complete. They filled their life and home with family, good friends, and shared many happy times with all of them. The family played a serious game of Parcheesi and had many high-spirited games of Euchre.

Cheryl worked various office jobs and her last 18 years of work were with Yahara Materials Inc. She left the company in 2016 and retired two years later. She was a hard worker in all aspects of her life and felt passionate about doing the best job possible. Offering a helping hand or going above and beyond was typical.  

Cheryl loved rocking her children to sleep, slumber parties in the living room, time in the kitchen cooking and trying out new recipes, gardening, camping in Wisconsin’s State Forests or National Parks, walking or biking the state trails, summer evenings outside with a glass of wine, a cozy candle lit winter evening, music on the radio, kind and generous people, Fall in Wisconsin, Thanksgiving, a light and fluffy winter’s snowfall, and all animals.

Cheryl is survived by her husband, Curt; son, Curtis Jr. (Mandy Swiecichowski) of Madison; daughter, Nikia Nowlen of Minneapolis, Minn.; sister, Nancy (Alan) Rhode of Portage; sisters-in-law, Jan (Dick Martin) Nowlen of Muscoda, Pastor Jill (Cliff Sanderson) Nowlen of Montello and Julie (Rich Stedman) Nowlen of Ithaca, N.Y.; brothers in-law, Chuck Nowlen of Hudson, Tim Nowlen of Cedarburg and Chuck Miller of Portage. She is also survived by many cherished nieces; nephews; cousins; dear friends; and her devoted and loyal dog, Benny. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Jeanne Miller; in-laws, Charles and June Nowlen; Ally the family dog of 15 years; and her first grand dog, Otis.

A private celebration of life will be held by the family at Cheryl’s request.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Dane County Humane Society. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Fitchburg

Funeral & Cremation Care

2950 Chapel Valley Road

(608) 442-5002