Sharon Miene

Sharon I. Miene, 77, of Postville died Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services were held Saturday, July 30 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville with Greg Hamm and Pastor Lynn Noel officiating. Burial was at Postville Cemetery.

Sharon Irene Miene was born November 20, 1938 in Winneshiek County, rural Decorah, the daughter of Mervin Julemen and Clara Genette (Flatland) Stegen. She was baptized at the Glenwood Lutheran Church and confirmed at the Madison Lutheran Church. Sharon attended the Bluffton #2 rural school and Decorah High School.

February 8, 1959 she married Harold James Miene at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Postville. Sharon and Harold farmed together north of Luana for many years. Together they enjoyed going on Holstein Association trips and attending the World Dairy Expo. She loved the farm life and was very active in all aspects of their operation. Sharon loved to cook, usually by instinct and seldom using a recipe despite the fact she owned hundreds of cookbooks. She operated “Sharon’s Catering” for many years, providing food for all kinds of events. Sharon enjoyed running the food stand for Sweeney Auction Service.

Church was an important part of Sharon’s life. She was an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church where she served three terms on the council, taught Sunday School and Bible School. She was a group leader for 27 years and served as WELCA president for three terms. She prepared meals for the Bible School and helped organize the Spring Festival.

She was also active in many of the farm-oriented organizations including the Holstein Association, Pork Producers, Farm Bureau, Clayton County Dairy Promotion and Dairy Maids. She served as a 4-H leader for the Luana Sunny Sues and served as president of the Iowa Holstein Auxiliary. She and Harold received numerous awards for their dairy farming operation; Sharon was awarded the Senior Dairy Producer Award in 2014.

Sharon especially enjoyed celebrating Christmas - making cookies, candies and Norwegian treats, decorating several trees, and had gifts for everyone. She collected cows, angels and cookbooks. Sharon enjoyed traveling with her sisters, especially their Alaska adventure. She also enjoyed going to local church dinners with her friends.

Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren call her “Grandma Sharon” or “Share Bear”. She loved attending their activities and spending time with them. Grandma Sharon lived by the motto “My favorite people call me Grandma!”

Sharon is survived by four children: Deborah (Mike) Horn of Mission, TX, Linda (Joe) Zuercher of Postville, James Miene of Monona and Fred (Annie) Miene of Prairie du Chien, WI; a son-in-law, Mark Ehrhardt of Monona; ten grandchildren: Nick (Deb) Zuercher, Monica (Brian) Enyart, Matt (Tara) Zuercher, Melissa (Randy) Wedo, Chris (Stefanie Kappes) Zuercher, Jill (Ben Beckwith) Horn, Samantha (Randy) Wagner, Kaylee (Kiel) Fritz, Jenna Horn and Desarae Miene; 16 great-grandchildren: Tyler, Caleb, and Nolan Zuercher, Olivia, Bradley and Jacob Enyart, Braelyn, Brooks and Braxton Zuercher, Kendyl and Reid Wedo, Kenslee Zuercher, Kestyn Fritz, Baby Wagner (due in September), Jaidon Jones and Michael Little; four siblings: Helen (Paul) Broadbent of Rochester, MN, Donald (Marion) Stegen of Decorah, Verna Peterson of Omaha, NE and Mary Canter of Milwaukee, WI; a brother-in-law, Bob Dotseth of Decorah; her sisters-in-law, Karla Miene of Decorah, Erma Jean Swenson of Postville and Karen Miene of Monona; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harold, who died in 1990; and her daughter, Sandra Ehrhardt, who died in 2012.

Casketbearers were Nick, Matt and Chris Zuercher, Brian Enyart, Randy Wedo, Kiel Fritz and Randy Wagner.

Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.