Sharon Lee Fennema

Sharon Fennema of Rock Creek, formerly of Isanti, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family at St. Mary’s Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester on Monday, August 15, 2016 at the age of 68. Sharon Lee (Schmidt) Fennema was born on June 14, 1948 to Harry and Ruffina (Redpenning) Schmidt in Wayzata, Minnesota. Sharon loved walking with her mother down the railroad tracks to go fishing on Lake Minnetonka. Her mother would often talk about how her brothers were always protecting her, although she would find ways to get them into trouble. Sharon obtained her GED and numerous certifications in the medical field as a caregiver. She very much enjoyed caring for others. Throughout her career she worked at Oak Terrace Nursing Home in Glen Lake, Grandview Christian Home in Cambridge, and Birchwood Nursing Home in Forest Lake. Most recently, she enjoyed working with her clients at Provide Care in North Branch. In her free time, Sharon loved spending time with her family, especially with her grandchildren. She always made holidays special for everyone. Sharon was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the spring of 2015 and through numerous treatments and surgeries it seemed she was on the road to recovery when she passed away. Our family would like to extend our thanks and deep appreciation for the outstanding care she received from Dr. Mark Truty, his team and all the staff at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and in Barron, Wisconsin. Sharon is survived by her husband William “Jim” Fennema of Rock Creek; daughters Samantha (Tim) Schmidt of Brainerd and Heather Fennema (Robert Gadwa) of Frederic, Wisconsin; step-son Ken (Catherine) Fennema of Fredericksburg, Virginia; 4 grandchildren Emmett Schmidt, Anthony Gadwa, Marcus Fennema and Caitlyn Fennema; brothers Earl (Donna) Schmidt, Cal (Bobbie) Schmidt and Butch (Angie) Schmidt; sister Flora Hoppe; many other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents Harry and Ruffina Schmidt and a brother Vernon (LaValle) Schmidt. Reverend Dr. Vicki Vander Vegt will officiate at memorial services for Sharon: 2:00 PM Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at the Swanson Funeral Chapel in Pine City. A gathering of family and friends is planned for one hour prior to the service at the chapel. The interment will take place at a later date at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery - Camp Ripley near Little Falls, Minnesota. Funeral arrangements for Sharon Fennema of Rock Creek, formerly of Isanti, are entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City-Swanson Chapel www.funeralandcremationservice.com