Sharon Marie Hardecke, 72 years old,of Springfield,MO,passed away on March 30, 2015 in her new home,where she had lived since last November.
She was born in Springfield, MO, on May 27, 1942, the daughter of Warren and Mabel (Riske) Hardecke. They brought her home from the hospital to their house on North Missouri here in Springfield,where she lived until the fall of 1988. She attended Bowerman Elementary School,Reed Junior High,Central High School,and was in the second graduating class of Hillcrest High School.
Preceding her in death were her parents and a nephew Dustin N. Hardecke. She is survived by her brother Howard Hardecke (Sherrie) and sister Marilyn O’Dell (Robert Mac) all of Springfield,MO. Also surviving are her nephews Rob O’Dell,Fair Grove,MO; Mark O’Dell (Adele),Springfield,MO; and Clint Hardecke (Angela) of Bella Vista, AR; great-niece Jerrin O’Dell and great-nephews Noah and Wyatt Hardecke. Also left to mourn her passing are her uncles Alvin Hardecke (Dorothy) of Sullivan, MO; Carl Hardecke of Strafford,MO; and her aunt Lillian Ridenhour of Farmington, MO, and several cousins with whom she spent many good times during their “growing up” years.
Sharon had many friends including Paula Henbest with whom she shared a home since 1988. Paula’s family considered her one of them. She helped Paula care for her parents Paul and Margaret Henbest until their passing. Paula’s family includes her sister Lory Feeler (Dale) of Tebbetts,MO; nephew Jeff Feeler (Heather) of Jefferson City,MO; niece Stephanie McDanel(Andrew) of Blue Springs,MO; great-nephews Cooper and Tuck Feeler and great-nieces Lily and Harper McDanel.
From the time she was a young girl, Sharon knew she wanted to be an educator. She received her bachelor’s degree from SMS and her master’s degree from the University of Missouri. She began her thirty-year career with Springfield Public Schools teaching upper grades at Boyd Elementary for 10 years and then serving as principal of Fairview, Mark Twain, and Tefft-Weller Elementary for 20 years before retiring in 1993. She then supervised student teachers for Evangel University. Her dad was working for J. Howard Fisk,and he helped her get started there where she drove the shuttle bus at MSU,tour groups,and many special events. Before leaving Fisk she also helped train other drivers.
During her professional career, she was a member of several organizations including, of course, PTA; Springfield Education Association;Missouri State Teachers Association, which she served as Southwest District President;both the Missouri and National Associations of Elementary School Principals; and the International Reading Association. Since retirement, she has been a member of the local and state retired teacher organizations. Through the years, she has especially enjoyed her time with the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. She served two terms as president of the local Alpha Gamma Chapter and as chair of the state scholarship committee for four years. She has financially supported the scholarship funds of the organization and established a perpetuating scholarship in her own name with the Springfield Public Schools Foundation. Several students have already received benefits from that fund.
Sharon had many talents and interests. She spent time reading,sewing,taking pictures, woodworking, practicing her musk, travelling, and spending time with family and friends. Over the years, she was a member of various Baptist Bible Fellowship churches. At the time of her passing, she was a charter member of Bible Baptist Church,Springfield,MO. She served as pianist and taught the ladies’ Sunday School class. She spent many hours preparing for both of those positions. She had a special love for the ladies in her class,and she was always delighted when she got to church early enough to ‘play music’ with Jim Rippy before the service started.
Her heart was also tuned to missions and missionaries,many of whom were personal friends.
She will be missed.