For more than four decades, Cheryl Krueger’s name was synonymous with one of Columbus’ most recognizable brands.
Krueger, the founder of Cheryl’s Cookies and later C.Krueger’s Finest Baked Goods, died on Saturday, June 13, following a three-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. She was 74.
Born in Bellevue, Ohio, Krueger graduated from Bowling Green State University before making her mark in Central Ohio’s business community. In 1981, she opened the first Cheryl’s Cookies store alongside her college roommate, Carol Walker, turning family recipes and a small local bakery into a nationally recognized gourmet gifting company.
Under Krueger’s leadership, Cheryl’s Cookies grew far beyond its Columbus roots. The business evolved into Cheryl & Co., serving customers across the country through retail stores, catalogs, e-commerce, and corporate gifting. Krueger sold the company in 2005 after building it into one of the best-known brands in the industry.
For many entrepreneurs, that would have been a fitting final chapter. Krueger wasn’t interested in slowing down.
In 2018, she launched C.Krueger’s Finest Baked Goods, returning to the industry she helped shape. The company quickly gained attention for its premium baked goods and award-winning packaging, continuing the approach that had defined her career from the beginning: quality products, thoughtful presentation, and an emphasis on customer experience.
Outside of business, Krueger was a familiar presence in Columbus civic and philanthropic circles. She served on the boards of organizations including Bob Evans Farms, Heartland Bank, The Ohio State University, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute Foundation, The Ohio State University Medical Center, and the Columbus Chamber of Commerce.
She also dedicated significant time and resources to charitable causes throughout Ohio. Cancer research became a particularly important focus after the loss of her business partner, Carol Walker, and her son’s own battle with cancer. Over the years, Krueger supported fundraising efforts for patient care, research, scholarships, food banks, military families, and educational programs.
In 2023, Krueger publicly shared her Parkinson’s disease diagnosis.
Rather than stepping away from public life, she used her platform to raise awareness about the disease and support research efforts, including work with the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Her accomplishments earned her numerous honors throughout her career, including Working Woman Magazine’s National Entrepreneur of the Year, the YMCA Woman of Achievement Award, The Ohio State University Business Person of the Year Award, and The James Champion Award. According to her family, however, she measured success less by recognition and more by the people she was able to help along the way.
Krueger is survived by her son, Cavin Wesley Green of Dallas, Texas, and her brother, James William Krueger of Naples, Florida.
Visitation will be held on Friday, June 19, from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Schoedinger Funeral Home in Gahanna, with a memorial service immediately following at 5:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Cheryl Krueger Memorial Fund” through The Columbus Foundation or by emailing Steven Moore at smoore@columbusfoundation.org.
