Sharyn "Sherry" Veltkamp

Sherry  was born Sharyn Ann Veltkamp on November 12, 1944, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to Marjorie Doris Bryant Veltkamp and Henry S. Veltkamp.  Her parents and her brother have preceded her in death. She leaves behind her niece, Carol Veltkamp-Santos, an uncle, Norman Bryant, and a cousin, Patty Russell, as well as many loving friends.

Sherry was educated at the University of Missouri, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree, at Santa Fe College, where she obtained an Associate in Science (nursing) degree, and at the University of Florida Anesthesiology Training Program.  Sherry worked at the Veterans Health Administration as CRNA (Nurse Anesthetist) from 1977 until she retired in 2007 as Chief of Nurse Anesthesiology.

Sherry's interests and talents were many.  She was an accomplished artist and designer, working in oil, watercolor, pencil, ink, and sculpture. Her art is admired by many.  Much of her artwork could be found in Star Trek fanzines.  She was also an accomplished cook, and shared many of her culinary extravaganzas with her friends.  Sherry loved Gainesville, the Gators, and the beaches of Florida’s First Coast. She explored and celebrated the eateries and attractions of this area for five decades. She loved travel and adventure, from whitewater rafting to mountain hiking, to the roller-coasters of the theme parks in Orlando. She traveled in Europe and visited and many places throughout the U.S., including the Red Woods of California, fishing for trout in the Great Smoky Mountains, imbibing fine wine in Napa Valley and rambling the back woods of Maine. She loved exercise and excelled in softball, racquetball and, recently, pickleball.  She was a voracious reader, and always made the best recommendations. In 1980 she co-founded the Star Trek/Speculative Fiction Gourmet Dinner Club (fondly known as the Saeobs), a group of loving friends who have remained together for over forty years.  It has been said of Sherry that, "she squeezed and savored every last drop of juice out of life."

Even after she became ill, she maintained a positive and upbeat outlook, staying the same open-hearted and gracious person she had always been to her care-givers, family, and friends.  In her last week, she was able to get together with many of her friends, laugh, and say her goodbyes.  After an eleven-year battle with multiple myeloma, Sherry left us peacefully at 4:20 a.m. Sunday morning, January 23, 2022 at the Haven Hospice E. T. York Care Center surrounded by friends.  Because of the pandemic, only small in-person gathering was held.  Those wishing to participate in an online celebration of a-life-well-lived and commemorate Sherry, please send your contact information to harrissecoffee@aol.com. 

Her friends and niece would like to express our appreciation to the doctors and nurses of the Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic at UF Health/Shands Hospital, who provided world-class care over the past 11 years, and to the staff of Haven Hospice, who provided loving care and comfort to Sherry in her final days.  For those so inclined, Sherry expressed her preference that donations be made to the giver’s favorite charity in her memory.