Sheryl K. Fagerlin

Sheryl Kay (Wittenbach) Fagerlin, age 81, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 3, 2026, in Rockford, Michigan.

Sheryl was born September 22, 1944, in Belding, Michigan, to Kenneth and Doris (Johnson) Wittenbach. She graduated from Belding High School in 1962.

While raising her three children, Sheryl also helped with bookkeeping and account management for Wonderland Ice. When her youngest child, Angie, went to college, Sheryl enrolled at Montcalm Community College to train as a medical transcriptionist. She went on to work at United Memorial Hospital (later Spectrum Hospital) in Greenville for many years.

Sheryl had a creative spirit and a keen eye for beauty. She loved to paint and took classes with friends for many years, selling her artwork at local fairs and gifting pieces to loved ones. She also had a passion for antiquing and treasure-hunting at garage sales and flea markets. Nothing made her happier than finding a bargain that she could resell for a profit! Her “Shabby Chic Market,” held in her front yard during Belding’s Labor Day festival, became a beloved tradition, often supported by her lifelong friends Karen Ware and Aileen Carson. Later in life, she was often found working on Sudoku puzzles, often with her grandchildren. Throughout her life, she found great comfort in her church and in God. Her trust in God was a steady source of strength, especially in her later years.

Sheryl was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by her siblings Tom Wittenbach and Betsy Lillie. She is also survived by her three children: Kimberly Long (Timothy) of Ada, Michigan; Pat Fagerlin (Trisha) of Rockford, Michigan; and Angie Fagerlin (Tony) of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Sheryl adored her 9 grandchildren and was a tremendous grandmother to Emily Long Birney (John), Abigail Lavoie (Patrick), Ellen Long, and Jack (Ryann) Long; Joshua Fagerlin (Kelsey) and Zachary Fagerlin; and Nathaniel, Lincoln, and Theodore Tsai. She enjoyed recently becoming a great-grandmother to Thomas Fagerlin and Jack Birney.

Sheryl’s kindness, laughter, and faith in God will be dearly missed by all who loved her. The funeral honoring her will be held on Saturday, January 24th at 2:00 p.m. at Verdun Funeral Home (303 S Bridge St, Belding) with Pastor Than Johnson officiating. The family will greet visitors for an hour prior to the service beginning at 1:00 p.m. Memorial donations can be made to the Alvah N. Belding Library, the B-Foundation, or the Alzheimer’s Association. For additional information, please contact the funeral home by calling (616) 794-1300.