Sharon Rae Schwenker

Sharon Rae Schwenker was gloriously welcomed into the home of her Lord and Savior on Monday, May 21, 2012. Sharon was born to the late Stanley and Frances Schwenker on March 27, 1955 in Taylor, Texas. Sharon was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Taylor, Texas. She graduated from Taylor High School in 1973 and studied nursing at Texas Lutheran University, Mary Harden Baylor and MCC nursing school.

After becoming a Licensed Vocational Nurse, Sharon worked at St. Elizabeth Nursing Home in Waco and John’s Community Hospital in Taylor where she was the 1998 Employee of the Year. She spent many years taking care of patients and serving her Lord as she ministered to the ill. Sharon enjoyed her work, the people she worked with and the patients she served. Being a nurse gave Sharon a chance to help others, to witness for the Lord and to provide comfort to those in need of a caring hand. In later years, Sharon served as John’s Community Hospital’s Activities Director where she planned activities for the hospital’s south unit’s residents bringing a smile to everyone she met.

Sharon was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and later Christ Fellowship Church where she attended Sunday School and numerous Bible studies. She was baptized both as an infant and as an adult because of her desire to acknowledge her Lord before others. Everyone who met Sharon knew her quick smile, generosity and love for life. Even though it was difficult for her to move with Parkinson’s, she was a constant presence at the SPJST Nursing Home, the Senior Center, and Grace Place where she visited with residents, sang, played dominos and bingo and at Shepherd’s Heart Coat of Many Colors where she donated her time working at the thrift shop.

Sharon loved two things above everything in life: her Lord and her family. Sharon was as proud of a family success as if it had happened to her. She was such a witness to others----------never dwelling on the challenges life sent her way. She had Parkinson’s, three melanomas, a heart pacemaker and major back, abdomen and brain surgeries and yet she never stopped thanking God for her many blessings. If we could use only one word to describe Sharon, it would be inspiration. She had such an unwavering faith in her Lord that she never questioned the problems she faced in life.

Sharon leaves behind to cherish her memory her sisters, Stancie Ley and Susan Schwenker Sawatzky, her brother-in-law, Don Sawatzky, her nieces, Kristen, Jennifer and Michelle Ley, Misty Sawatzky, Michael Kirschten and her grand nephew, Lukas Kirschten, her Aunt Geneva Freels and cousins, Brenda Trial, husband Joe and children, Travis and Blake, Brad Freels, wife Claudia and children, Clayton, Kevin and Carly and numerous friends and relatives.

The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to Sharon’s caregivers, Joyce Israel, Maybell Terry and Janet Nehring who were faithfully at her side for many years as she struggled with Parkinson’s. They not only provided constant daily support but also friendship beyond compare. They were more than caregivers---they loved Sharon as devoted friends and sisters in Christ. The family would also like to thank Sharon’s many relatives, fellow church members, friends and fellow Taylorites for adding joy and purpose to her life.

Friends are invited to the visitation on Sunday, May 27th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Providence Funeral Home - 807 Carlos Parker Boulevard - Taylor, TX 76574. The funeral service will be held at 10:00 am, Monday, May 28th, at Christ Fellowship Church, 1517 McLain Street, Taylor, Texas with Pastor Jeff Ripple officiating. Following the funeral, the graveside service will be held at Taylor City Cemetery, Taylor, Texas on Monday, May 28th.

Pallbearers will be Brad Freels, Mark Groba, Ron Neel, Don Sawatzky, Rusty Strmiska and Joe Trial. Honorary Pallbearers will be Joyce Israel, Janet Nehring and Maybell Terry.

If desired, memorials may be sent in Sharon’s honor to Christ Fellowship Church, 1517 McLain Street, Taylor, Texas, St. Paul Lutheran Church, 401 West 7th Street, Taylor, Texas or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research – Grand Central Station – P.O. Box 4777 – New York, New York 10163.