Cynthia Johnke

Cynthia M. Johnke, 54, of Wheatland died Feb. 28 in Cheyenne after a year-long fight with small-cell lung cancer. Cindy was born Oct. 1, 1959, in Laramie and was promptly adopted by Anna Rose and Olie L. Mendenhall. She grew up in Wheatland and graduated from Wheatland High School in 1978. She married Ron Johnke on Aug. 11, 1979, in Chugwater. Cindy worked as a certified nurse's assistant at Platte County Memorial Nursing Home before leaving that job when her sons scared away every babysitter in the greater Wheatland area. She spent the next decade-plus shuttling them from school to Boy Scouts and to lessons, practices and games for a variety of sports. Cindy later returned to Platte County Memorial Nursing Home as a dining assistant and housekeeper, before being diagnosed with cancer. Those who knew and loved her will forever remember her as compassionate, selfless and, above all, unflinchingly loyal. Cindy is survived by her husband, Ron of Wheatland; mother, Rose; son, Jeremiah of Cheyenne, his wife, Elizabeth, and their children, Jerrick and Elayna; and son, Joshua of Lynchburg, Va., his wife, Tiffany, and their daughter, Kyla. She was preceded in death by her father, Olie, and adopted brother, Zinn. There will be a celebration of life for friends and family at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Platte County Memorial Nursing Home. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that friends make donations to Platte County Memorial Nursing Home or the cancer center at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center.