Sharon Rae Strohm

Sharon Rae Strohm, age 92, of Ames, Iowa passed away Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames.

Born Sharon Rae Jackson on October 26, 1931, in Sioux City, Iowa, she was the 2nd daughter of Isabel Coburn and Russian immigrant Archie Jackson. She was a lovely child and won the title of the “Prettiest Baby” contest in Sioux City in 1934. She attended Central High School, where she graduated with honors in 1949. She married John Erwin Strohm in 1951 and they raised their family in the Morningside area.

Sharon was a stay-at-home mother of five children and a sixth child was born when they relocated to the family farm near Castana, Iowa.

Sharon, a city girl, loved the country life where she raised chickens for fresh eggs, grew a humongous garden, canned all the produce, and taught us the ropes like it or not. As time progressed, she worked at the local elementary school as a librarian, then several telecon companies. This included MCI where she won many sales awards. Later when she and John divorced, she decided to retire near her youngest son in Ames, Iowa.

While living in Ames, she joined several singing groups, enjoyed bus trips, water aerobics, walking and staying very active. She traveled to Scotland twice and visited her family in the Midwest. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, her eldest daughter JoAnn Snyder, her grandson Joseph Snyder, a brother Tim Lester, and three sisters: Valerie Rand, Glory Fletcher and CarolSue Holdcroft.

She is survived by her children: daughter Sharyl (Kirk) Jennings of Normal, IL, son John (Lori) of Ashland, NE, daughter Lisa Holden of Ardmore, OK, daughter Laura (Tony) Brende of Worthing, SD, and son Jake (Jen) of Ames, IA; Sharon had ten grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and three half-sisters: Pigeon Heuertz, Pun Jackson, and Rhonda LaScala.

A Graveside Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, July 19, 2024, at Memorial Park Cemetery in Sioux City, Iowa.  Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel.