Cheryl Ann Kehres-Dietrich

Cheryl Ann Kehres-Dietrich

After a long and valiant battle with cancer, Cheryl Ann Kehres Dietrich passed away on December 1, 2021.

Born on March 3, 1957 in Detroit, Michigan, she was the daughter of Joan and Virgil Kehres.  Her early youth was spent in Taylor, Michigan, but later the family moved to the country where Cheryl attended Stockbridge High School and graduated in 1975.   At school, she participated in cheerleading and running track, and earned an athletic letter.  Cheryl and another girl were talented enough to compete as part of the boys’ track team before there was a team created for girls.   She went on to study geology at Michigan State University and earned a B.S. in 1980.  In the years following, she completed her Masters Degree (also from MSU), and worked in the field of hydrogeology, garnering experience that would propel her to a future career in the environmental sciences, and a trailblazer for women working in the technical engineering field.

Cheryl joined SME ( Soils and Material Engineering) in 1986, the first woman hired for a technical position at the company.  She worked her way up through the company, ultimately becoming a principal and vice president, the first woman to reach both statuses at SME.  She was active in the Michigan Association of Environmental Professionals (MAEP) and served on their board.  She was recognized by the Women’s Resource Network at SME as a “pioneer” for paving the way for female engineers in their field.

An avid hiker, Cheryl met her future husband, Matt Alfred Dietrich, while hiking in the Smoky Mountains.    They were married on September 14, 1985 in Dearborn, Michigan and spent their honeymoon hiking in the White Mountains.  Cheryl and Matt continued their shared love of the outdoors, camping, hiking and skiing in many locations including the Adirondack Mountains, Isle Royale National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Wind River Mountain Range in Wyoming.  Even during her struggle with cancer, Cheryl could be found checking out the trails at Maybury State Park and made an excursion to visit Ludington and hike the State Park there.

The couple briefly lived in Inkster, but eventually settled in Northville where they raised their son, Hans Andrew Dietrich, born in 1988.  Hans also enjoyed the outdoors and often joined them.

In Northville, Cheryl and Matt were active with the Northville High School football parents and the Boy Scouts.  Cheryl helped set up and implement the Todd Schoenheide Memorial Scholarship at Northville High School.  She also devoted her time to fundraising and planning events for the Boy Scouts.   The family twice hosted exchange students (Lorenz Herrmann and Max Boehner) from Germany for the school year.  Cheryl kept in contact and visited with both.

Cheryl was predeceased by her parents, and brother David Kehres.   In addition to her husband Matt and son Hans, Cheryl leaves behind her sisters Patricia Kehres of Webberville, Michigan, Janice (Mark) Armstrong of Stockbridge, Michigan and Steven (Lori) Kehres of Dansville, Michigan. Also fondly remembering Cheryl are her many nieces and nephews: Emily, Alec and Madelyn Armstrong, Chaz and Logan Kehres, Ashley Clemens, Amelia Spence, Kelsey and Alex Dietrich, Alfred, Dan and Julia Jagels.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, April 24, 2022 at Noon at The Inn at St. John's, 44045 5 Mile Road, Plymouth.  If you plan on attending, please RSVP to Gail Jagels at [email protected] by April 10, 2022.