Cheryl/Oma Lynn (Brown) Reichard, 79, “climbed her last mountain” as her soul ascended into heaven on March 28, 2025. Sadly, she lost her battle with pancreatic cancer. She passed away peacefully at her home in Port Charlotte, Florida, while being comforted by her husband, Jim/Rike Reichard, daughter, Jeannine Rose, and her beloved golden retriever, Liesl.
She was born March 22, 1946, in Wenatchee, Washington, to Richard L Brown and Ora Lee Clark (Bartalamay).
Mrs. Reichard graduated with honors in 1964 from Wenatchee High School. Her love of the outdoors and animals began at an early age, as she often returned from school with muddy paw prints on her clothing attempting to convince her mother that the puppy needed a home. Growing up in Wenatchee, Washington, she worked summers in the cherry and apple orchards.
After moving to Yakama, Washington, she met the love of her life, Jim “Rike” Reichard in February 1974. They became life companions for the next 51 years, marrying in May of 1976.
After living in Maryland for five years, her life became more exciting when they moved in 1979 to Sugar Grove. She took the lead role for remodeling and expanding their house originally built in 1949. Of special note is the outstanding continuing support she provided her husband during the years he was employed by the National Security Agency. Numerous adventures!
Loving adventure, they moved in the summer of 1987 to Munich, Germany, and remained overseas through 1994 until they returned to Sugar Grove. Her love of the outdoors led her to become a serious mountain hiker and an advanced skier in the Austrian, Italian and German Alps. Their adventures continued as they traveled extensively through Europe, the UK, Greece, Norway, Japan, New Zealand and also included a four-month deployment to Bosnia Herzegovina in support of her husband’s employment.
Her life was reflective of her drive to finish all things with perfection. This could be seen while expressing her talents in dog training (certified therapy dog volunteer), EMT volunteer, various home building projects, sewing, and cooking. Nothing was too difficult or challenging.
Her beloved husband, Jim (Rike) Reichard, survives.
Also surviving are children, Michael Reichard and Jeannine Reichard Rose; grandchildren, Rachyl Johnson and husband, Joel, Matthew Reichard and wife, Hannah, Emma Rose and partner, Sean McMaster, and Molly Rose; nine great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; step-mother, Sharon Brown; siblings, Diane Snyder, Rick Brown, Becky Brown Strauch and Bob Moore; half siblings, Geoff Brown, Stephen Brown, Tracy Brown, and Camye Brown Takach; a brother-in-law, Charles Reichard and partner Janet Gulnac; and several nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by siblings, Barry Brown and Kelly Brown McIntyre.
A celebration of her life of adventures is tentatively planned for late summer/fall.
Memorial donations may be made to Tidewell Hospice, 1158 Veronica St., Port Charlotte, Florida 33952.
