Sharon L. Nelson, 72, of Marquette, died at home surrounded by her family on Sunday, December 2, 2012. A celebration of Sharon's life will be Thursday, December 6, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. at the Heartland Evangelical Free Church in Central City with Rev. Zeke Pipher officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday, December 5th from 5 to 8 p.m. at Solt Funeral Home in Central City. Interment is in the Mamre Evangelical Free Church Cemetery near Marquette at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday with Rev. Scott Johnson officiating. Memorials may be directed to the family to be used for missions.

Sharon was born on December 24, 1939, in Woodston, Kansas, to Maurice L. and Frances L. (Hull) VanGundy. The VanGundy family lived in Courtland, Kansas until Sharon was in the 6th grade. They moved to Idaho for one year, before settling in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Sharon graduated from Colorado Springs High School in 1958 and earned her Bachelor's degree in elementary education from Colorado State Teacher's College in Greeley. Sharon taught in Pueblo, Colorado and Aurora, Nebraska. On June 22, 1963, she was united in marriage to Leon Nelson in Colorado Springs. They made their home on their farm near Marquette and Sharon and Leon worked together on the farm. Sharon was also a teacher's aide and worked in the school kitchen at Nebraska Christian Schools in Central City for many years; and for fifteen years, she worked at the Grain Place near Marquette. In 1983, Sharon's parents came to live on the farm with Sharon and Leon until their deaths.

Sharon was a member of the Heartland Evangelical Free Church in Central City where she held various offices, attended many Bible study groups, and she very much enjoyed the years she taught preschool Sunday School and helped with AWANA. She was a member of a Hamilton County Extension Club, worked with the Mission Heart World Relief Project, and she enjoyed gardening, cooking, and sewing. Sharon especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Leon of Marquette; four daughters - Lori and John Tweedy of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; Jennifer and Paul Jennings of Littleton, Colorado; Stephanie and Stan Zila of Westminster, Colorado; and Julie Beth and Aaron Smith of Marquette; eight grandchildren - David, Sammy, and C.J. Tweedy; Michael Jennings; twin grandsons - Kyle and Cory Zila and Kara Zila; and Adrianna Smith; two sisters - Sheryl and Tom Taylor of Truro, Nova Scotia; and Kris and Phil Rusk of Unionville, Virginia.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents - Maurice and Frances VanGundy.