March 1, 1984 – December 13, 2024 

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, B.C. on December 13, 2024, after a very short battle with cancer. 

Sheri was born on March 1, 1984, in Ashcroft, B.C. She was raised by her loving parents, Marilyn and Bob Surgeson, in Cache Creek, B.C. 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, B.C., Whitby Ontario, and Kamloops, B.C. 

It was in Kamloops, B.C. 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 

You may offer a message of condolence at Kamloops Funeral Home for the Bahnsen family.   

• Date : 2024-12-13
• Location : Kamloops