Cheryl Hanes Kanzenbach

Cheryl Arnilla Hanes Kanzenbach gently passed away at her home on Wednesday October 19, 2016 in Madison Alabama after a three-year battle with brain cancer. She was born February 20, 1958 in Arab, Alabama and often shared her memories of a happy childhood.  Cheryl was a member of the CrossPointe Church in Madison with a deeply rooted Christian faith.  Her biggest joy in life was the beach – any beach.  She often said how much she enjoyed the salty kisses and sandy feet. After graduation from Fairview High School in Cullman, she obtained a marketing degree from the University of Alabama Huntsville and quickly moved into the workforce. Her greatest asset was her loving and bubbly personality which elevated her in every endeavor she ever attempted.  After filling several management positions in retail, she moved to a long time career at the Huntsville Holiday Inn where she quickly became a cornerstone of the workforce there. After almost two decades at Holiday Inn, she was handpicked to work as a Military Contractor specializing as an Instructional System Designer where she excelled until her illness forced her to retire early. She was preceded in death by her Father, Gurley Nelson (Bill) Hanes. She is survived by her Mother, Arnilla Hanes of Cullman AL, her three brothers:  William Franklin Hanes of New Market AL; Ronnie Michael Hanes of Union Grove, AL; John David Hanes of Cullman, AL; her sister Teresa (Hanes) Golden of Cullman, AL; and her loving husband Jim Kanzenbach of Madison, AL. She also had three step children who live in Central Texas.  Additionally, she leaves behind six nephews, three nieces, seven great nephews, and four great nieces each of which she treated as her own children. She left the greatest gifts, the special things she taught us by doing: Love of God and America, love and respect for one another, the duty to leave the place (or the world) a little better than you found it, a positive attitude and the joy of music, humor and fun.  Most importantly, she always emphasized the powerful force of eternal love that binds all of us through thick and thin, now and forever. In lieu of flowers, Cheryl would rather a donation to your local animal rescue shelter or to a local no-kill city pound. Visitation will be Thursday October 27th from 3:00-4:00pm at the Legacy Chapel Funeral Home at 16 Hughes Road, Madison AL with the Celebration of Life immediately following at 4:00pm.