Sharon Elizabeth Seuntjens 1945 - 2024

SEUNTJENS, POWERS, O’MEARA

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 5/25/2024 at 22:12:47

The Mapleton Press
9 May 2024

Sharon E. Seuntjens, age 78, of Mapleton, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the Maple Heights Nursing Home Mapleton, Iowa.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 11, 2024, at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Mapleton, Iowa. Father William A. McCarthy will officiate. Committal Services will follow in the Danbury Catholic Cemetery of Danbury, Iowa.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a Rosary 6:45 p.m., followed by a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m., on Friday, May 10, 2024, at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Mapleton, Iowa.

The Armstrong - Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements.

Sharon Elizabeth Seuntjens was born on October 18, 1945, to Patrick and Joyce (Powers) O’Meara in Fort Riley, Kansas. Sharon grew up in Mapleton, Iowa and received her education at Maple Valley High School graduating with the class of 1963. She was very proud her family owned and operated O’Meara Shoe Store on Mapleton’s Main Street. After high school, she attended St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Sioux City, Iowa. After nursing school, she began working for Dr. Harold Ganzhorn in Mapleton.

On September 21, 1968, Sharon was united in marriage to Neal M. Seuntjens at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mapleton. They spent the first few months of their marriage in Colorado while Neal was in the Army. After Neal was discharged in 1969, they moved to the family farm east of Danbury, Iowa. This is where they brought all of their boys home from the hospital and raised them. The couple was blessed with five boys: Thomas, Matthew, Peter, Charlie, and Joseph.

Sharon spent her time helping on the farm, raising chickens, taking care of bottle calves, gardening, and raising their boys. She was especially good at baking pies and canning. She passed these skills on to her youngest son.

When Sharon and Neal’s youngest son was 8-years old, she began working at Willow Dale Nursing Home in Battle Creek, Iowa. Sharon worked at the nursing home for 14 years and then she finished her nursing career working for Dr. John Sinnott in Ida Grove, Iowa. Soon after all four boys graduated high school, Sharon and Neal moved into Mapleton.

Family was the most important thing to Sharon. She did everything she could to make the ballgames and activities of her children and grandchildren. Sharon was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved her.

Left to cherish her memory include her loving husband of 55 years, Neal Seuntjens of Mapleton, IA; children Matthew (Amy) Seuntjens of Danbury, IA, Peter (Hillary) Seuntjens of Danbury, IA, Charlie (Sarah) Seuntjens of Detroit Lakes, MN and Joseph (Katie) Seuntjens of Polk City, IA; 10 grandchildren: Lynsey (James ) Brouillette, Hayley Seuntjens, Colby (Karlee) Seuntjens, Brady, Reagan, Isabella, Grayson, Ellie, Max and Leo Seuntjens; and 2 great-grandchildren with 1 on the way. She is also survived by brothers Joseph (Patti) O’Meara of Wildwood, MO, Michael (Mary Ann) O’Meara of Fishers, IN and Denny (Laura) O’Meara of Johnston, IA; sisters-in-law Dianne Hill of Knoxville, TN and Beth (Keith) Hazen of Kansas City, MO; nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Patrick and Joyce O’Meara; infant son Thomas Seuntjens; brother-in-law Doug Hill; and nephew Patrick O’Meara.

The family would like to thank the staff at Maple Heights Nursing Home for their excellent care of Sharon during her time there.