Sharon Ann Brown

Sharon A. Brown, 81, of Waukon, IA, died Saturday, October 17, 2020, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon surrounded by her family. Memorial services will be held Friday, October 30th, at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. John Moser officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 10:00 AM until time of services at the church on Friday. In consideration of concerns regarding Covid-19, social distancing and wearing of mask are required. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Sharon Ann Brown was born December 14, 1938, in Waukon, IA, the daughter of Francis and Myrl (Fullerton) Sullivan. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick Catholic Church and graduated from St. Patrick High School in 1955, both in Waukon. Sharon also attended Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI. After college, she moved to Minneapolis, MN, to work and she also met Thomas Brown. They were married on December 29,1962, at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Sharon and Tom moved to Milwaukee, WI, in 1964, where their three daughters were born. They later moved to St. Cloud, MN, before moving to Waukon in 1974 for a short time. Tom took a job in Missouri and they lived there for a while. In 1976, they moved back to Waukon and Sharon worked at Northgate Care Center as the activity coordinator for 18 years. Tom's job once again took them back to Missouri for the next 12 years. In 2006, they moved back to Waukon to retire, enjoying time with their children and grandchildren.

Sharon was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church. During her retirement, she managed the St. Vincent de Paul store in Waukon for several years. Sharon was very outgoing, loved being with people, and was genuinely interested in others and their families, always having time for everyone she came in contact with. Sharon enjoyed playing cards, going out for coffee, fishing, reading, and writing short stories and poems. She enjoyed playing the piano and taught piano lessons to many children over the years. She will be remembered for her genuine love of people, her sense of humor, and wit.

Survivors include her daughters: Julie (Ron) Peiffer of Harpers Ferry, IA, and Jane (Wayne) Byrnes of Waukon; a son-in-law Todd Dietrich of Waukon; 16 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; a sister Carol Smith of St. Augustine, FL; a brother Richard "Dick" (Cathy) Sullivan of Waukon; a brother-in-law Patrick (Teresa) Brown of Lewiston, MN; and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Thomas, who died in 2011; a daughter Joan Dietrich, who died in 2019; and a nephew Kyle Sullivan.

Honorary casketbearers are Sharon's grandchildren and great-grandchildren.