Sheila Joanna Benz was born on January 8, 1962, in Sibley, Iowa, to Clayton LeRoy and Ardis Ann (Johnson) Scharlepp. She grew up in Sibley and attended Sibley High School, later earning her G.E.D. in Sheldon, Iowa.

    On August 8, 1997, she married the love of her life, Kenny Benz. Together, they built their life of country living and farming. Sheila lived her dream on the farm - surrounded by the things she loved most: her horse, her loyal dogs, and her Jeep. A devoted Iowa Hawkeye fan and NASCAR enthusiast, she always brought passion to the things she enjoyed. Sheila also loved to cook, especially when she could share a meal with family and friends. She spent many years working at JR’s in Melvin, Iowa, serving breakfast and lunch with a smile, and returning in the evenings to care for and laugh with the friends she cherished. Known for her mischievous spirit in her younger years, Sheila only grew more “spicy” with time. She was unapologetically honest - never afraid to tell it like it is - and those who knew her loved her for it.

    Sheila passed away peacefully at her home near Melvin on October 28, 2025, at the age of 63 years. She is reunited in heaven with many loved ones who have gone before: her parents, Clayton and Ardis Scharlepp; her grandmother, Katherine Scharlepp; brothers: Steve and Scott Scharlepp; and stepchildren: Sarah Benz and Rick Benz.

    Those left to honor and cherish her memory include her husband, Kenny Benz of Melvin, Iowa; her children: Chris (Becky) Scharlepp and their children: Kayla, Haley, Lily, and her great-granddaughter, Tenaya, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Nate DeVos of Colorado Springs, Colorado; her stepdaughter, Victoria (Jeremy) Johnson and their children: Skylar and Connor all of Kansas City, Kansas; stepgrandchildren: Sterling and Kennedy Janssen of Milford, Iowa; her sister, Shelley (Rick) Zins and their children: Cory and Hunter of Brewster, Minnesota; as well as many relatives and countless friends who loved her dearly.

Sheila will be remembered for her strength, her humor, and the love she gave so freely.

Her legacy lives on in every heart she touched.