Scheryl Marie (Peterson) Grant

Scheryl Marie Grant of Bennett Iowa passed away at home on May 16, 2023 from cancer, with her two legged and four-legged family by her side; she was 72. 
Scheryl was born in Moline, Il on May, 21, 1950 to John F Peterson and Ruth Dittman Peterson. She graduated from North Scott High School in 1968. 
Early in Scheryl’s career, she worked as a waitress, a cook and as a painter in the Cab department at International Harvester. Scheryl was united in marriage to Donald LeRoy Grant July 21, 1977, in Mountain Home Arkansas, overlooking Northfork Lake with family in attendance. 
Scheryl found her true passion as a Master Dog Trainer graduating from National K9 of Columbus, OH in 1994. Scheryl and Don built and founded Starlite Academy and K9 Country Club boarding kennel of Bennett Iowa in 1995. This is where Scheryl really shined as a trainer of dogs and most importantly dog owners! Scheryl not only taught obedience training to hundreds of customers but taught Search and Rescue classes which led to establishing Search Paws, a non-profit volunteer organization. Over Scheryl’s 29 years as a trainer, she trained many service dogs for customers with needs in the area of seizures, autism and various impairments where the service dog enhanced the owners’ quality of life. Many customers returned to Scheryl for “board and train” services over the decades each time they brought a new dog into their family. Scheryl would spend hours upon hours on the phone in the evening talking with customers and advising them on dog behavior issues such as potty training, jumping, aggression and excessive fear. Over the years, Scheryl’s reputation as a trainer grew well beyond the Bennett/Tipton Iowa community to outside of Iowa and developing clients in multiple states across the Midwest. 
Scheryl’s other joys besides training dogs, talking about dogs, and loving on dogs, was gardening, canning, and making the most amazing peanut brittle on the planet as many can attest to! 
Surviving Scheryl, is her husband of 46 years, Don Grant; stepdaughters Lynn Grant (Austin TX) and Lori Grant (Minneapolis, MN); sister Bonnie Coble (Ed) of Atkinsen, Il; special niece Jacqueline Garcia (CO); and not to be forgotten, her three Golden Retrievers, Lucy, Ruby and Maggie. 
Preceding Scheryl in death are her parents John and Ruth Peterson, Karen Mangini (Nick); and brother Donald Peterson (TX). 
Scheryl will be laid to rest at the Rock Island Arsenal National Cemetery on Friday May 19th at 1:30pm in a private service for family and friends. 
Memorials may be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 
Online condolences may be shared at www.fryfuneralhome.com

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