Sharon L. Norris

Sharon Lee (Nanscawen) Norris, age 76, of La Crosse died at her home, in peace, after fighting a pulmonary auto-immune disease, with no found cure, for over a year. She passed in the presence of her 24 hour care giving daughters Rebecca, Sarah and Sam, and with her husband Larry holding her hand.

Sharon was born in Beloit, WI, in 1946, the last of four girls to Frank R. and Rowena E. (Kerr) Nanscawen. Sharon and her family eventually moved to La Crosse following Frank’s progression as a pharmacist. She attended La Crosse schools and graduated from Central High School with the class of 1964. She attended UW-La Crosse until she and Larry were engaged in November of that year.

They met in the summer of 1964 drag racing in Riverside Park. She won the race, and the story was retold every year, especially around their anniversary time. She and Larry were married April 10, 1965 at Good Shepard Lutheran Church in La Crosse by Pastor Jarvie Mattis. Sharon and Larry celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary shortly before her passing. To this union were born five children, Rebecca (David) Jacobson, James (Shela) Norris, Sarah (Terry) Zimmerman, Samantha (Jon) Parkhurst and Zachary (Kendra) Norris, along with bonus daughter Sandy (Paul) Steinhoff. Their family continued to grow with the arrival of 15 grandchildren: Ryann, Nick, Gabrielle, Payton, Scout, Bailey, Erin, Emma, Landon, Mason, Devin, Owen, Josh, Calvin, and Caleb. Sharon was also blessed to help raise Kristin Joan Halverson, who is loved as a member of the family.

Sharon and Larry also have seven great-grandchildren with one more on the way.

Sharon is further survived by brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Donna (Don) Jobe, Jeep (Sue) Norris and Tony (Vivian) Norris; niece Carol Burnett who shared Sharon’s love of horses and many other nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly; best friend Donna Schultz and her other English Lutheran Church family members and friends; and special friend Karl “Butch” (thumbs up) Halverson.

Sharon was a devoted and faithful servant of the church, helping in so many ways, and was several years ago named English Lutheran Church’s Ministry Volunteer of the Year, for her a surprise and honored title. No matter her role at church, she always did it with pride and a smile.

Sharon is preceded in death by her parents, sisters Barbara “Bobbi” Knutson, Sylvia “Cookie” Kraus, and Jackie Kaemmer, and mother-in-law and father-in law, Martha and Clair Norris.

A special thank you to Gundersen’s Hospice Care team, especially Jason Mowery, RN and Dr. Larry Skendzel. Their genuine compassion and care for Sharon and her family were invaluable and allowed us to keep Sharon at home, honoring her wishes.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 22 at 11:00 am with a visitation beginning at 9:30 am at English Lutheran Church in La Crosse. A luncheon will follow.

I’ll see you again someday, Mom. I love you whole lotsa bunches, and I always will. -Dad

Donations in honor of Sharon may be made to: Sugar Creek Bible Camp - The Horse Project, 13141 Sugar Creek Bible Camp Road Ferryville, WI 54628 or Gundersen Health System Hospice 1900 South Avenue La Crosse, WI 54601.