Peter Douglas Sherry

Peter Sherry, 46, of Forest Lake, quietly entered into glory on January 31, 2022, of complications from colon cancer. Peter was born October 26, 1975, in Urbana, Illinois, to Richard and Candy Sherry. He grew up in the small town of Wilmore, Kentucky, where his father and later his mother taught at Asbury College. In 1978, his sister Emily was born, who became his lifelong friend and participant in childhood shenanigans. From his earliest years he professed a faith in Christ as his Savior, and sought throughout his life to live as a faithful follower of Jesus. He graduated from Jessamine County High School, and after three years at Asbury College, joined his family in Minnesota. He completed his undergraduate degree at Bethel College (now Bethel University), and later earned graduate degrees at Bethel Seminary, including a Master of Arts in Theological Studies (2003) and a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (2011), with additional work toward a Master of Divinity degree at Luther Seminary. In the course of his preparation, he served either as an intern or on staff at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fridley, MN, and Roseville Lutheran Church. In 2001, he and Nicole Szurek married, and became the parents of Eliot Coltrane (2004) and Taylor Davis Sherry (2006). His deep love and care for his sons has been a dominant part of his life, and he and Nicole co-parented the boys after they divorced. He celebrated the time spent with them, and in his last post to friends he wrote: "I'm grateful for my children, Eliot and Taylor, and the many ways that they will carry on what it means for me to have been their dad. I learned a lot about little things in life, but even more about big things. I learned how to be less selfish, more giving, that time spent together is worth more than all the money in the world, how to make better choices, and how to be loved by people who were always going to be inherently different from me." In the last decade he focused on higher education, assisting students in finding the right programs in counseling at Capella University and later as a staff member for Learning House, assisting students to enroll at Concordia University St. Paul. An accomplished musician, he played in several local bands and assisted worship in his local church, and in 2019 began a small business, Bull Moose Guitars, building guitars at home. Disappointment and stress led him to struggle with alcoholism in mid-life, and he joined Alcoholics Anonymous, finding support and encouragement. He would have celebrated five years of recovery in April 2022. In the summer of 2019, he renewed a friendship of many years with Jennifer Hanzal; they married in December 2020, after Peter had been diagnosed with cancer. Eliot and Taylor welcomed her into the family, standing as "best men" with their father. Together, Pete and Jenn battled the disease, and Jenn has been his unfailing support as he moved forward. She has been heroic and courageous in these last months, and her courage and practical acts of love enabled him to continue. They found in each other the partner each had been looking for their whole lives. Peter accumulated friends across the country, from college, seminary, churches, his counselling work, and AA, demonstrating compassion and thoughtfulness, and having a remarkable influence on the lives he touched. Hundreds of friends have been praying for him during this last illness. During his life, he lost his grandparents, Charles and Margery Sherry and Leroy and Eunice Shearer, and his mother, Candice. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Hanzal, and two sons, Eliot and Taylor Sherry; his beloved sister, Emily Panzica (John) and her children, Micah, Caleb, and Brie, for whom he was always "the fun uncle"; and his father, Richard (Marjorie Mathison Hance). Visitation 2:00-5:00PM Sunday, Feb. 6 with a Memorial Prayer and memories beginning at 4:30PM at HOLCOMB-HENRY-BOOM-PURCELL, 515 Hwy 96 W., Shoreview. Funeral service 10AM Monday Feb. 7 at HOLY TRINITY ORTHODOX CHURCH, 956 Forest St. N., St Paul. Limited seating at church. Masks are required. Private interment.

Tributes

Peter Douglas Sherry

October 26, 1975 - January 31, 2022

Tributes

Peter Douglas Sherry

October 26, 1975 - January 31, 2022

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