September 3 2019: STECKLEIN, Sharon L.

SHARON LOUISE STECKLEIN

Sharon Louise Stecklein passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, September 1, 2019.  She was 72 years young. Originally born in Wisconsin, Sharon grew up as the eldest of four children on a series of family dairy farms. She initially enrolled in the School of Nursing at University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire before earning a place in the prestigious WRAIN program at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Maryland.  She graduated with honors from the program with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of Maryland and as an active duty first lieutenant in the US Army Reserve.  It was here in Maryland that she met her husband George (“Bill”) and was later honorably discharged from the service to start a family and further pursue a career in nursing. In 1980 she also earned a degree in Business Management from University College at University of Maryland at College Park – making her a Terrapin twice over.  But for over 30 years she was a NICU nurse at several local hospitals including Prince George’s Hospital, Shady Grove Adventist Hospital and finally Holy Cross Hospital.  She eventually transitioned into NICO nursing case management at Holy Cross and retired from that field.  She was member of several nursing associations: National Association of Neonatal Nursing (NAAN), Sigma Theta Tau and Alpha Sigma Lambda.

Sharon grew up Lutheran and was active in her local church community.  First at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gaithersburg where she served on church council and chairperson of the Social Ministry committee; and presently at St. Luke Lutheran Church where she also served on church council, the altar guild and in the food pantry.  Over the years she also was council member with The Community Ministry of Montgomery County and was both a volunteer and Food Coordinator with Gaithersburg HELP as well as a volunteer with Meals-on-Wheels.  She belonged to the Sons of Norway and could trace her family’s ancestry back to Norway.  She greatly enjoyed eating, but not making, lefse.  She was a survivor of colon cancer like her mother and aunt before her and often reminded family and friends to never forget their colonoscopies!

She greatly enjoyed her family – traveling often to see those in Wisconsin and Virginia. She was a lifelong Cheesehead and eagerly anticipated every season of the Green Bay Packers.  It is much believed that she will be watching Thursday’s Packers v. Bears opener from on high.  Sharon also enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. and visited almost every state in the union including Hawaii and Alaska.  One of her favorite trips was a two week stay in San Francisco after being declared cancer free!  She was a voracious reader and loved crossword puzzles and sudoku.  She also greatly loved her two granddaughters who only knew her as their ‘Gigi’.

Her life is celebrated by her remaining family: her beloved husband of 50 wonderful years – Bill; her daughter Tracey Stecklein Gulden and her husband Kenny;  her granddaughters Ellie and Meggie;  her sister Nancy Thompson; and her brothers John Thompson and the late Brian Thompson.  She is also survived by many dear family and friends.  Relatives and friends may call at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 9100 Colesville Road (at Highland Dr.), Silver Spring, MD, 20910, on Friday, September 6th,  from 10 to 11 a.m.  A Memorial Service will begin at 11 a.m. with a short reception at the church thereafter.  Interment Private.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Luke Lutheran Church Food Pantry.