Sharon Kay (Kramer) SMITH

SMITH, KRAMER, KRAUS, BANCROFT, WHITE, ALLISON, ELIASON, BROWN, OWSLEY, WILSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/5/2016 at 16:17:13

September 7, 1940 ------ July 1, 2016

BELMOND — Sharon Kay Smith, age 75, of Belmond, IA, died, Friday, July 1, 2016, at the Iowa Specialty Hospital-Belmond, following a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer. Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 6, 2016, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 304 3rd Avenue Northeast, Belmond. The Reverend Dawn Pederson will be officiating. Friends may call Tuesday at the Andrews Funeral Home, 516 1st Street S.E., Belmond, and visitation will also be held one hour prior to the services at church Wednesday. Those wishing to express their sympathies through a card or memorial in Sharon’s memory may wish to consider the Brad Berneman Fund, Belmond Historical Society/Museum, or to their own choice.

Sharon Kramer, the daughter of Art and Arlene (Kraus) Kramer, was born September 7, 1940, at her home in Garner, IA. She was baptized and confirmed at the Zion Evangelical Reformed Church. Sharon attended Garner Community Schools, graduating from Garner High School in the Class of 1958.

She was united in marriage to Richard “Dick” Smith at the Zion Evangelical Reformed Church-Garner (today’s Zion United Church of Christ). The couple’s union was blessed with four children: Tim, Todd, Troy, and Aimee. They were later divorced after 19 years together. Sharon later met Don Bancroft and the couple’s companionship and bond took them on a life journey together and with both of their families for the next 37 years prior to her life-ending battle with cancer.

Sharon was a lifelong homemaker, loving mom and grandma, along with being a wonderful sister to her siblings. She and Donald truly relished their years with one another. In addition to being a homemaker, Sharon had been employed in various occupations, including working for the telephone company, managing Casey’s General Convenience Store in Belmond, the ladies’ clothing store in Belmond and for many years at Farm and Home-Belmond.

Sharon’s love for her and Don’s children was immeasurable. She adored and lived for her grandkids. She cherished each and every moment of their times spent on shopping excursions, spoiling them over the years with special treats only for them, as well as the fun she shared with them under “Grandma’s Rules.” She was also known for her affectionate names for most her family members.

Sharon was very much a kid heart, enjoying collecting Betty Boop memorabilia or tooling about the area with Don in their Crosley cars. Sharon was a very meticulous lady who always kept the house in order. She also carried this meticulous characteristic into her personal life as her hair was always perfect and her outfits were coordinated. She enjoyed times spent in her yard and flowers.

She was a terrific cook and baker, always searching for that next delectable dish or delight to make for her family and friends. Even in recent times as her health declined she could be found reading feverishly through numerous cookbooks. Her family recalls with fondness her mouthwatering, “second to none” potato salad.

Sharon’s other favorite pastimes were painting and woodwork creations that she and Don would make and oftentimes sell their wares at area venues. For many years she organized the events and happenings of the annual family reunions and her family looks forward to continuing this occasion as a tribute to her legacy.

Those who will carry on with the memory and legacy of Sharon’s life journey in their hearts and mind include her companion of 37 years, Don Bancroft, Belmond, IA; her children, Tim Smith, Todd (Peggy) Smith, and Troy (Jonni) Smith, all of Belmond, and her daughter, Aimee Smith, Kanawha, IA; her brother, Jack (Judy) Kramer, Johnston, IA; sisters, Judy Smith and Diane White, both of Clear Lake, IA, and Tammy (Tim) Allison, Maple Plain, MN; Sharon’s beloved grandchildren: Kaci Eliason, Kanawha, Easton Smith, Belmond, Owen Eliason, Kanawha, Hunter Smith and Bryce Smith both of Belmond, Cloe Brown, Kati Brown, and Bradley Brown all of Belmond, and Wyatt Smith also of Belmond; also surviving are Don’s kids, Randy Bancroft, Denver, CO, Sheryl Owsley, Belmond, and Sarah (Jeff) Wilson, Runnells, IA; as well as other extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond, IA;

Mason City Globe Gazwtte -- Iowa
July 5, 2016