Kathryn Sheryl Ferguson

Kathryn Sheryl Ferguson (Sheryl) of Newton, IA, passed away on December 7, 2025. Visitation will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Newton on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, from 10-11:30 a.m. with a funeral service immediately following. Friends are then invited to join the family for a graveside service, and then a light luncheon provided by the church.

Sheryl was born in Monroe, IA on March 9, 1938, to Elvin Leroy Koder and Gwendolyn Catheryne (Jack) Koder. The family later moved to Prairie City, IA, where Sheryl and her siblings were raised and attended Prairie City Public Schools. After graduation, Sheryl worked in Des Moines for the Bell Telephone Company. She was introduced to James (Jim) Edward Ferguson through friends; they married in 1959 and settled in Newton, IA, where they raised their four children.

Sheryl was an honorable mention all-state basketball guard for Prairie City High School. She passed on that love of athletics and competition to her children, all of whom participated in school athletics. She was an avid bowler throughout her life, competing annually in county and state bowling tournaments, which earned her many accolades including a state championship title. Over the years she played for several teams and leagues and made many friends through bowling, an activity she cherished. She also loved gardening. She maintained a vegetable garden, but her real love was her flower gardens—a love she passed on to her daughters. Sheryl loved travel. She and Jim often took their children camping, and to many sites around the midwest, west, and southern states. In their later years, she and Jim continued their travels throughout the U.S., including a beloved cruise trip to Alaska.

After Jim’s passing, Sheryl shared her love of travel with her sister, Sandy, with highlights including Hawaii, Washington, D.C., and Ireland.

She worked for many years as a cook and baker for Newton Public Schools. After her retirement in 2007, students would still approach her to say hi and say how fondly they remembered her from the school lunch line. When she wasn’t working, Sheryl was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Newton. Over the years she helped as a Sunday School teacher, nursery attendant, and volunteered for many other activities to support the church.

She was devoted to her family and children, donating her time to the PTA, the Newton Booster Club, and as an active swim team parent volunteer. She also spent many years as an involved Boy Scout and Girl Scout pack leader. She put her family and faith first in her life and shared her grace with those she met along her life journey. She was a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, mother, and grandmother.

Sheryl is survived by her daughters, Deborah Lynn Bagnall (Brent), Kristy Joann Warren (Andrew), and Janet Lea Dooley (Robert); her grandchildren, James Ferguson, Amanda Sites, Aric, Adam , and Kyle Warren, Madison Bagnall, Johnathan and Catherine Dooley, and her five great grandchildren; her brother, Gene Koder, sister Sandra Davis, and sister-in-law Elaine Koder-Cassady; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. Sheryl is preceded in death by her husband, their son, Jim Ferguson, Jr., her brother, Jerry Koder, and both of her parents.

The family wishes to thank the Park Centre Garden View memory care staff for the skill, care, and compassion they showed our mother in her final years and days. We ask that any memorial donations be made to The First United Methodist Church or to the Park Centre Garden View activity fund.