Sheila Maria Perkins, 56, of Atlantic, Iowa, died Sunday, August 16, 2026, in Atlantic after a 4.5-year battle with cancer.
The funeral service will be held on Monday, August 24, at 10:30 AM, at Gass Haney Funeral Home with Pastor Randy Longacre officiating. Private family interment. Visitation will be on Sunday from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM and continue on Monday from 9:30 AM until service time, all at the funeral home. Memorials are to be directed to the wishes of the family. Her favorite color was purple, so purple attire was welcomed.
Sheila was born on December 28, 1969, in Columbus, Nebraska, to Dennis and Rita (Rice) Perkins. At age five, the family moved to Platte Center, Nebraska. Sheila attended Platte County District 10 Grade School, earned her GED, went on to obtain her bachelor’s degree, and finally two master’s degrees in criminal psychology from Purdue University.
Sheila worked in Norfolk, Nebraska, at the Well and the Liberty Center. After moving to Omaha, she began working at CenterPointe Campus for Home as a substance abuse counselor. She lived by “her rules” or “no rules”. Sheila had a heart of gold and took great pride in helping her clients. She enjoyed Karaoke and the TV series “Survivor” and had a large collection of Bob Dylan memorabilia.
Sheila is survived by her sons, Robert Waite and grandson Parker of Norfolk, Nebraska; Jesse Perkins of Norfolk, Nebraska; and Tyler (Polly) Perkins-Seymour and grandson Gregory of Clear Spring, Maryland; her sisters, Melaney (Brian) Reeg of Platte Center, Nebraska, Rebecca (Brett) Manak of Columbus, Nebraska, and Teresa Jaikie of Des Moines, Iowa; her brother, the Rev. Ben (Dulsey) Perkins of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; her aunts, Karen Swoboda and Beth Rice, both of Columbus, Nebraska; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dennis and Rita Perkins; her brother, Randy Perkins; her grandparents, Hubert and Virginia Perkins and Myron and Lois Rice; her aunt, Sandra Simmer; and her uncle, Gary Perkins.
Condolences may be sent to ‘www.gasshaney.com’
Gass Haney Funeral Home, 2109 14th Street, Columbus, NE 68601, 402-564-5227.
