Sharon Jean Wells, age 82, of Fennimore, WI, passed away, leaving her pain behind, and with her loving sister and brother at her side Friday, March 3, 2023. She was born July 19, 1940, in Livingston, WI, the daughter of Howard and Betty Wells.
Sharon attended grade school in Stitzer, WI, while her father co-owned the Stitzer Cheese Factory with his brother Vernon Wells. After moving to the family farm Howard & Betty purchased in 1952, Sharon attended The Fennimore Grade School and Fennimore High School, graduating in 1959. She left there with a love of reading that led to nearly life-long trips to the library.
Sharon was cognitively disabled, though highly functional, with a very sweet soul. She grew up in the 50s when the general public didn't understand her kind of disabilities nor treat those having them very kindly. She never let her disability keep her from living fully, being as helpful as possible whenever given an opportunity.
In the 1970s, she regularly and lovingly babysat her niece and nephews in their early years. Their Aunt Sharon was their #1 babysitter. She read to them, bought them treats, played board games (let them always win at Monopoly and Checkers), took them on nature walks in the woods on the farm, and so much more, including making "Pigs in a Blanket" for Saturday lunches.
Sharon lived in group homes, and starting in 1995, her daily life was centered as a member of the Southwest Opportunities Center community. Her daily bus rides to SOC with peers often included lively discussions and jokes. With her time at SOC, spanning over two decades, Sharon experienced the benefits of SOC's evolving programs. She worked in Productions Services, where she had a wide variety of jobs, including multi-piece assembly for various items, product packing, inserting, and document destruction services, to name a few. She won many awards related to her performance and cherished working with her peers.
Her latter years at SOC were spent in their seniors' program, now known as Golden Opportunities. They would start their days with a discussion of the current news. She loved the activities (bowling, fishing, card games, bingo, coloring, and spending time with her peers. While there, she took advantage of many "Day Trips," including Brewers games, a visit to and tour of the Lambeau Field complex, and trips to Gays Mills orchards in the spring and fall. Her daily bus rides to SOC with her bus drivers (she did have favorites) and peers often included lively discussions and jokes. She thrived at SOC and loved her time there.
In December 2019, her health precipitated a move to Divine Nursing and Rehabilitation, in Fennimore. While living there, she loved participating in activities and interacting with other residents and staff.
Sharon was an avid Badgers, Packers, and Brewers fan. She readily offered her thoughts about who played well or poorly. She could recite batting and fielding statistics of her favorite Brewers players. Sharon loved playing cards from Go Fish and UNO to six-handed euchre. Every game included laughter.
God has a purpose for everyone. Sharon was His example that nearly anyone, disabled or not, can live life fully. You have to do it. She did it with a smiling "yes please" and "thank you," and a loving soul.
Sharon is survived by her sister, Nancy Wells, and her brother, John Wells, both of Fennimore. She is also survived by her nephew, John Wells, Jr (Patti), Westminster, CO, their daughter, Rebecca, and Niece, Amy Lynn Scanlan (Tim), Fennimore, and their sons Julian, Paul, Henry, John Patrick, and Henry’s daughter Novah, and Nephew, Bradley Wells (Devanie), their daughters, Allison, and Kaitlyn.
A private family funeral service will be held at the Larson Family Funeral Home in Fennimore. A public graveside service will be held at a later date in the Rock Church Cemetery in Clifton Township Grant County, WI. Cards of sympathy may be mailed to the funeral home at 925 10th Street Fennimore, WI 53809.