Sharon L. Foss

Born April 25, 1935 in Yankton, South Dakota to Don B. and Edith A. (Nelson) Cadwell, she married Marvin Eilert Foss on August 15, 1959 in Iowa City, Iowa. He died November 13, 2013 in Pekin. She also was preceded in death by her parents and one niece.

Surviving are one son, Wayne (Susan) Foss of Pekin; one daughter, Karen (David) Capper of Iowa City; four grandchildren, Brian (Kelley) Capper of Lenexa, Kansas, Darren Foss of Pekin, Diane (Evan) Striker of Chaska, Minnesota and Emily (Daniel) Mansfield of Lincoln; four great-grandchildren, Allison Foss, Aubrey Capper, Kelly Mansfield and Nolan Capper; one sister, Donann Wallingford of Columbus, Nebraska; two nephews, Scott Wallingford and Don (Tina) Wallingford, both of Omaha, Nebraska and many great nieces and nephews.

A 1953 graduate of Yankton High School, she was a graduate of Sacred Heart School of Nursing in Yankton and the University of Iowa with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. She later earned her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Illinois in Chicago and in 1989 earned her Doctorate in Educational Administration from Illinois State University.

Sharon enjoyed a 30 year career in nursing and nursing education, with 28 of those years at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. She last served as Associate Dean in the College of Nursing from 1975 until retiring in 1997. She was a former longtime member of the National League for Nursing and the American Nurses Association.

Sharon had a passion for reading and was an active member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Pekin since 1959. She had served as a member and secretary on the Church Council and had been a longtime Sunday school teacher. She also was a member of the Mary Martha Circle at the church.

She thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday, July 8, 2022 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Pekin. Pastor Stephen D. Barnes will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin, and also one hour before the funeral at the church. Cremation will be accorded following the funeral and private inurnment will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Francis Medical Center College of Nursing, 511 Northeast Greenleaf, Peoria, IL 61603; Our Savior Lutheran Church, 2223 Sheridan Road, Pekin, IL; or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com