Sheri Maxine Bahnsen It is with heartbreaking sorrow that we announce the passing of Sheri Maxine Bahnsen (née Surgeson). Sheri passed away at the age of 40 years at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, BC on December 13, 2024 after a very short battle with cancer.
Sheri was born on March 1, 1984 in Ashcroft, BC. She was raised by her loving parents, Marilyn and Bob Surgeson, in Cache Creek, BC. Throughout the course of her childhood and teen years, Sheri developed and maintained many cherished friendships. Sheri’s friends meant the world to her and she would do anything to support them, encourage them, and find ways to let them know that they were always in her thoughts. However, Sheri had an adventurous soul and Cache Creek just couldn’t satisfy her restless spirit.
Sheri loved to travel and had an insatiable need to see the world. She was always plotting out the next destination that she just HAD to experience. The travel bug hit Sheri when she was given the opportunity through Ashcroft Secondary School (ASS) to go to Europe. This trip to Europe sparked a fire in her and she later went on to travel to Thailand, Mexico, Las Vegas (on multiple occasions), and Ireland. In the midst of her traveling adventures, Sheri moved her physical location and developed friendships that she always held dear in the communities of: Kelowna, BC, Whitby Ontario, and Kamloops, BC.
It was in Kamloops, BC that Sheri found a reason to remain grounded when she met the love of her life, Simon Bahnsen. Simon introduced Sheri to a different way of adventuring and seeing the world by experiencing the beauty of nature that was in her own backyard. Despite her fear of heights, Sheri began rock climbing, hiking, and pushing herself to the limits with her best friend by her side.
Just when Sheri thought life could not get any better, she and Simon were blessed to welcome Isabelle and then Emmett into their lives. Sheri’s entire world changed after becoming a mommy. There wasn’t anything that she would not do for her children. She loved them deeply and would move Heaven and Earth to ensure that their needs and wellbeing came before anything.
Sheri was fiercely loyal to her family and friends and her passing has left a tremendous hole in our hearts. Sheri will forever be remembered by her husband, Simon; her children, Isabelle and Emmett; her parents, Marilyn and Robert; and her sister and brother-in-law, Leanne and Ian; her family by choice Katie, Detlef, Eric (Nikki), Jessica (Adam), Peter (Kara), along with nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends that are too numerous to name.
A celebration of life will be held in the Spring of 2025. An announcement will be made on social media with an exact date and time after arrangements are made. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Isabelle and Emmett’s RESP via bahnsenburner@hotmail.com
Condolences may be sent to the family from
www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com
9 Tributes
Marilyn and Bob, please accept my sincere sympathies for the loss of your daughter. May you both find strength in the memories you hold dear and in the love that surrounds you during this unimaginable time.
A shining light gone far too soon. Sheri, your sparkling smile, your beautiful voice, your loyalty and your love will live on forever. Rest easy my sweet friend
Sheri,
Thank you for all the fun times when we were kids. Going down to the pool,with Christy and Jonathan..
loved how our small town knew everyone!! We knew your parents and your sister., knew where u lived.. your parents knew us..
we knew everyone and all their families, those times feel lost. But we got to experience that.. 80’s kids
what a great time to live..
it’s heart breaking what happened, you where the healthiest person I ever knew,right down to when we were kids or teenagers.. my condolences go out to your family or children, your spouse,your sister and your parents.. you’ll never be forgotten. R.I.P lady..
This is so hard. Sheri’s love of life, bubbly personality is going to be some of the many things that I will miss. She left her loved ones way too soon, her love for you all is unending. My deepest condolences.
Extremely sorry. Hugs to you all.
Sheri you will be missed, even though Shelley and myself only knew you vicariously through your posts, pictures and stories on social media. You have always been larger than life and loved for that. I cannot imagine the grief felt by my brother and his wife, your sister Leanne and Simon, Isabelle and Emmett. The world is a sadder place without you in it. We will always remember you and love you.
My heart breaks for you all. May peace and comfort wash over you wirh all the beautiful memories you share. Sheri’s spirit lives on in her family and friends.
I worked alongside Sheri in Kelowna. She was the nicest ,funniest person I ever worked with. she made work so enjoyable.When my youngest child got cancer she sent a statue of an angel to me. She was so kind when he passed . I will never forget that. She texted me a couple days before she left us and told me the news. I am heart broken . She was a special lady and friend. My heart goes out to her mom and dad,her sister and her husband and her loving children. We all will miss you . Terry Jarvis
I am so shocked to hear of Sheri’s passing. I worked with her when she worked at the Kamloops Fire Centre. She was always kind, SO smart and willing to help with anything, and I always just felt she was a beautiful soul. When she left BCWS it was nice to keep in touch with her on Facebook and hear about the births of the kids. I was so glad when she decided to come back to us to help out in the TEAMS program because I knew she would always be fun, be a ray of sunshine, and do an amazing job whatever she did.
She will definitely be missed. Sheri – gone MUCH too soon.
I am SO very sorry for your loss.