Cheryl Ann (Maslonka) Maslonka

Cheryl A. Maslonka, 65, was born March 21, 1951, in Pickstown, South Dakota, and died May 11, 2016, in Omaha, Nebraska, after a brief illness.

Cheryl graduated from Southern Local High School, Racine, Ohio, in 1969, attended the University of Arkansas, Hastings Technical College (where she earned a degree in drafting), and graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska Omaha, with a degree in Home Economics/Interior Design.

She began her career in 1972 as a Clerk-Typist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, and after a year became an Engineering Draftsman with the Corps. In 1979 she began working in the Corps’ Interior Design Office. In 1984-1985 Cheryl worked as an Interior Designer, Europe Division, in Frankfurt, Germany, for the Corps, and in 1985 returned to the Corps’ Omaha District Interior Design Office. In 1988 Cheryl became Supervisor of the Interior Design World Wide Center of Expertise, which she helped establish, and remained in that position until 1997 when she retired from the Corps as Chief of the first Interior Design Section in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In addition to her duties as Section Chief, Cheryl also traveled teaching Interior Design seminars for the Corps. She was known for molding a tight-knit, talented team that won countless awards for brilliant design work throughout the nation and Cheryl received commendations and awards for her excellent work and commitment by the interior design industry and by her superiors at the Corps. She had a keen eye for space and color and her interior designs can be seen in U.S. embassies, office buildings, libraries, corporate planes, hospitals, and homes around the world. She served on numerous industry committees in many capacities including as President of the Corps of Engineers Retired Omaha District/Division Employee’s Organization (RODEO). She also volunteered at the food bank in Omaha, read and recorded books, magazines, and newspaper articles for the sight impaired, and mentored young adults for whom English was their second language, helping them learn to read.

She had many friends in many walks of life. Cheryl was liked by everyone for her quiet, kind ways. She knew hundreds of Irish music fans and helped organize trips to America for her musical friends from Ireland who entertain in the Omaha area each year. She loved to travel and meet people. She traveled to Ireland and Scotland four times and visited many other countries on four continents. Those who knew her talk of her integrity, patience, kindness, honesty, love of all music, her friendship, and her gentle, and loving ways. She had a smile and kind word for everyone and no one stayed a stranger to her long. She made everyone feel as easy in their own skin as she was in hers. Troubled friends sought her kindness; her advice was golden. She worried about all her friends and was always there with a helping hand or word of encouragement. She took care of those in need simply by listening and being direct and emotionally supportive. When she spoke to you she made you feel like you were the only person in the world.

Cheryl was preceded in death by her parents, Ruth and Ralph Maslonka of Loup City, Nebraska, and is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Trudy K. Maslonka and DeWitt D. Smith of Tyler, Texas, many cousins, and hundreds of friends around the world. She will be forever missed.

A tombstone has been placed next to her parents in Ord, Nebraska. 

 Service Information