Sharon D. Keers

SHARON DEAN OLSEN KEERS was born on December 17, 1932 to Elmer and Lorraine (Reich) Olsen in Holland, Minnesota. She attended elementary school in Holland and graduated in 1950 from Pipestone High School in Pipestone, Minnesota. In August of 1950, she married her high school sweetheart, Jack Keers. They made their home in Pipestone. To this union, three girls were born, Peggy, Cindy and Sandy. Sharon was a stay-at-home Mom, volunteering as a “Brownie” leader, a Sunday school teacher and as a St. Paul Lutheran Youth Group Leader. She was the bookkeeper for Keers’ Paint & Contracting and from 1972-1974, she managed the Pipestone Ewert Center when it was located at the old Country Club. In 1980, she and Jack divorced, at this time, Sharon moved to Minneapolis to start anew. She started a job as a file clerk with Wausau Insurance where she advanced to a Senior Claims Adjustor, managing the state of South Dakota. After a flourishing 17 year career, Sharon retired in 1997. In 1980, Sharon also began a life of recovery, having just recently received her 35 year medallion. Sharon died peacefully on December 2, 2015 after a heroic battle with Lung Disease at Pleasant Manor in Faribault, Minnesota at the age of 82 years, 11 months and 16 days.

Sharon was a devoted mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Nothing made her more happy then for everyone to be together playing cards or telling family tales. She loved unconditionally and was very much loved. Sharon truly lived by these words: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Sharon is lovingly remembered by her three daughters, Peggy (Tom) Pfaff of Decatur, Alabama, Cindy (Joe) Fuhrman of Austin, Minnesota, and Sandy Keers of Faribault, Minnesota; seven grandchildren, Matt (Julie) Pfaff, Becky Pfaff, and Mari Davis, John (Stacy) Fuhrman, Katy (Tony) Lukken, and Mike (Jen) Fuhrman and Jessica Mace; ten great-grandchildren, who knew her well as G.G.; sister, Kathy (Rich) Hess of Pipestone, Minnesota, and her beloved nieces and nephews. Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Lorraine, her brothers, Phillip and Michael Olsen, and nephew John Olsen.