Thomas, Sharon Joanna Age 78, passed away on April 27, 2025, in Brown Deer.

Sharon was born in Fond du Lac on August 27, 1946, to Erwin and Erna Rusch on her father's birthday. She treasured her childhood in Campbellsport where grade school playmates became lifelong friends (known as "the Crazy Eight"). Although an only child she grew up surrounded by a loving circle of cousins. The apple of her father's eye, she fondly remembered him reading her Sunday newspaper comics and bedtime stories, fostering her love of books and learning. A lengthy convalescence as a child from a bout of rheumatic fever, further cultivated her love of literature.

Her acumen for the written word prompted her to get involved with forensics in high school. She excelled at debate and competed at the state level and used her oratory skills to delight her younger cousins with dramatic readings of Horton Hears A Who. Sharon's classmates appreciated her dry sense of humor, but she was a serious student and graduated Salutatorian in high school. Her public speaking skills led her to St. Olaf College and Carroll College where she graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in elementary education in 1968 and was a member of the Kappa Delta Pi educational fraternity. Her college roommate Susan Frei and childhood friend Mary Brown (both teachers, like Sharon) became fast accomplices in many adventures traveling throughout North Africa, Europe, North America, and the Pacific (including a memorable Elvis Presley concert in Las Vegas with front row seats).

For thirty-five years Sharon taught second grade at Grafton Elementary School in Ozaukee County. She nurtured generations of children, inspiring a love for the written word and learning about the world around them. Her bookshelf is lined with volumes by Beverly Cleary, Laura Ingalls Wilder and E. B. White, which she enthusiastically shared with her nephew, niece, cousins, and godchildren during family gatherings and holidays together.

Sharon married Robert Thomas at Mayflower Church in River Hills on June 29, 1985. They shared a love of the arts and an enthusiasm for the theatre, cinema, and travel. Many summers were spent in Ontario, Canada at the Shaw and Shakespeare festivals and attending the American Players Theatre in Spring Green. She enjoyed spending time with her niece in England, and local field trips with her nephew and his family, and her cousins and their children. In retirement Sharon ushered at the Repertoire Theatre in Milwaukee, served on the Mission committee at Trinity United Church of Christ in Brookfield and enjoyed curating her garden.

Beloved wife of Robert, loving aunt of Jonathan (Meseret) Niehaus and Emily (Scott) Metcalfe, loving cousin of Janet (Jean) Schuster, David (Susan) Glass, Joan (Roger) Beusch, Linda Buchmann, Diane (Bill) McCandless, Karen (Walter) Baeher, Carol (Don) Van Beek, and adoring 'Auntie' to her great-nieces, cousins, and godchildren, Sharon was preceded in death by her parents and twelve paternal cousins.

A memorial service will be held at Trinity United Church of Christ, 4435 N Calhoun Rd in Brookfield on June 14, 2025, at 12:00 PM. Visitation begins at 11:00 AM followed by the service.

The family wishes to extend its deepest appreciation for the compassionate staff of Aurora Medical Center in Grafton and Aurora Home Hospice as well as the care of Dr Norine T. Nazareth, Dr. Katie Cohen, and Dr. Mohamed Djelmami-Hani and the caring service and companionship of the Covering Hands Home Care caregivers.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations be made to Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) (www.rif.org) which provides resources nationwide to inspire the joy of reading in children.