Obituaries

Sharon died on Friday, June 9 in her apartment at the Perry Lutheran Homes Spring Valley Campus in Perry, Iowa. She was born to Robert and Myrtle (Scott) Bruce on February 28, 1938, in Mitchell, SD.

Sharon was united in marriage to Glenn Theulen, of Perry, on February 29, 1956. The couple lived in numerous places, including Iowa, Maine, Colorado, and Indiana during their first 12 years of marriage before settling in Keene, New Hampshire in 1968 until their retirement in 1989. They then returned to Perry for the remainder of their lives.

On May 26, 1957, they welcomed their first son, Michael, born in Sanford, Maine. Then, on June 24, 1958, they welcomed their second son, Matthew, born in Perry, Iowa.

Her greatest love was her family which includes her son Michael and his wife Midje of West Springfield, Massachusetts; her son Matthew of McKinny, Texas; her brother, Bob Bruce and his wife Susan of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; her four cherished grandchildren: Zach Theulen (and his fiancé Nicole Patton) of Agawam, Massachusetts; Jessica Theulen (and her boyfriend Bobby Spano) of West Springfield, Massachusetts; Joe Theulen and Sam Theulen of McKinney, Texas. Her love extended to her nieces and nephews which includes Lori Ridpath of Toledo, Iowa; Bruce Ridpath and his wife Lisa of Columbia; Robert Bruce and his wife Melissa of Vienna, Virginia and Ryan Bruce and his wife Valerie also of Vienna, Virginia; and several great nieces and nephews. Sharon was predeceased by her parents; Bob and Myrtle Bruce, her husband Glenn Theulen, and her sister Shirley (Bruce) Ridpath and her husband, Ronald.

In her youth, Sharon was a standout athlete excelling in basketball where she became an Iowa High School All-State Guard (when Iowa girls’ basketball was six v six). Sharon worked her entire career in the banking business starting as a teller and progressing to Director of Loans for Indian Head Bank in Keene, New Hampshire. Sharon will always be remembered for inviting various coaching associates and ball players of Glenn’s into their home and making Sunday dinners. She traveled on the bus to all of Glenn’s basketball games during his tenure at Keene State College and especially enjoyed watching both her sons during their years playing for the team. Sharon could frequently be heard yelling at the referees, the players and, at times, the coach! After retiring and moving back to Perry, Iowa Sharon spent many years caring for her mom Myrtle and became an advocate for seniors living in various assisted living and nursing homes in and around Perry. During her years in Perry, Sharon touched many lives and her relationships with various people were very special to her, these include; the Stewart Family, Tom and Kathi Lipovac, Mahlon Conaway, Beverly Waddell of Urbandale, Barbara Bambrick, Mary Lux and the women at Your Spa where Sharon had a standing 8:00 am appointment every Thursday, and many of the wait staff of the Hotel Pattee, the Tin Pig and the Whistling Donkey- her favorite eating establishments.

Sharon’s family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to Wes Zollman and the Hospice Team who cared for her in the last couple of days and all the supportive employees at the Perry Spring Valley Assisted Living facility where she resided the past year. A special loving shout out to Betty Delgado, a trusted family friend and nurses’ aide at Spring Valley who truly loved Sharon and took care of and visited her daily whether she was working or not.

Sharon has requested that there be no visitation or memorial services held at this time. A Celebration of Life will be established by Sharon’s family and will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Perry Area Food Pantry or the First United Methodist Church and may be sent to Murdock funeral home. Online condolences may be left at murdockfuneralhome.net