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Shreveport, LA - Services celebrating the life of Dr. Leif Jorstad Sherry, age 36 will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, August 6, 2016 at First Baptist Church, 543 Ockley Drive, Shreveport, LA with Dr. Jeff Raines officiating. A reception will in the parlor.
Leif was born in Madison, WI on March 31, 1980 to Hunter and Randi Blandino Sherry and passed away on August 2, 2016 in Ruston, LA.
Leif was preceded in death by his father, Hunter Tobias Sherry and maternal grandparents, Frank Madison and Lila Jorstad Blandino. He is survived by his wife, Sarah Lagersen Sherry of Shreveport, LA; ; son, Liam Frederick Sherry of Shreveport, LA; daughter, Larkin Lynn Sherry also of Shreveport, LA; mother, Randi Lynn Sherry of Mansfield, TX; paternal grandparents, Toby Eugene Sherry and Margaret DesRochers Sherry all of Madison, WI; sisters, Lyndsay Rogers and husband, Ben of Phoenix, AZ, Erin Greenwood and husband, Nolan of Columbia, LA; mother and father-in-law, Cheryl Bridges and Harvey William Rubin of Shreveport, LA; sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Farrell and husband, Chris of Broomfield, CO and Rebekah Louis and husband, Tom of Dallas, TX; brothers-in-law, Jack Rubin and wife, Stephanie of Cincinnati, OH and Josh Lagersen and wife, Jacqui of Nashville, TN. Leif is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Leif was a life-long student, a passionate outdoorsman and - above all - a servant to those he loved. He first stood out as a student at Hendersonville High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee. In addition to excelling at his studies, Leif served as president of the student body and captain of the soccer team. He even found time to sing in the choir. Leif earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport, Louisiana. It was at Centenary that he met his love and life-partner Sarah. Their love blossomed as they discovered many passions they shared in common - from singing in the Music School's renowned Camerata to competing together on the Ultimate Frisbee fields.
Leif continued studying Chemistry at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where he earned a Ph.D. He applied his scientific expertise at CNA in Washington, D.C. before engaging in post-doctoral studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Leif loved teaching and pursued that passion at Bossier Parish Community College where he was Assistant Professor in the Science Department and served on the Faculty Senate.
The outdoors were an eternal source of energy and inspiration for Leif. He loved camping, hunting and teaching his children to fish. He valued those experiences with his family above any possessions and focused his energy on creating more time for those memories that last a lifetime.
His children were his joy. Leif spent countless hours playing board games, card games, soccer, Frisbee and golf with his seven year old son Liam. He created a special place and time with his four year old daughter, Larkin. Each morning, she would get out of bed before the rest of the family and ask her father to come down with her. Each evening, he brushed her hair and kissed her goodnight.
Leif found his greatest fulfillment in service to others. He was admired as much for his helping hands as he was for his remarkable intellect. If something needed fixing, building or figuring out, Leif was eager to serve and determined to work until the job was done.
Leif and Sarah built a loving and active family that is a testament to his generous spirit and passion for learning. Leif's love survives him and uplifts his family.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be made to Active Minds, 2001 S. Street NW Suite 450, Washington, DC, 20009 or www.myactiveminds.org
First Baptist Church of Shreveport
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