Sharon (Ratzlaff) Jespersen, 81, of Freeman

Visitation with a sharing of memories will be Saturday, January 3, 2026  from 10:30 to 11:30 am at the Friedensburg Bible Church, rural Avon. Burial is in the Friedensburg Cemetery.

Sharon Kay Jespersen was born June 7, 1944 at Avon, SD the daughter of Albert and Bernice (Koehn) Ratzlaff. She died Thursday, December 25, 2025 at the Freeman Medical Center in Freeman.

Sharon graduated form Avon High School in 1962. She attended Grace Bible Institute in Omaha for a year. She was united in marriage to Elmer Jespersen in November of 1967 in Avon. Four children were born to their union: Betty Jo, Mary, Cheryl and Eric Dean.

Sharon worked in nursing homes in Wagner and Marion. She later accompanied her husband Elmer cross country trucking for many years.

Sharon will be remembered for her love of music, playing the piano, accordion and vibraphone. She also enjoyed coloring and puzzles to keep her mind active.

Thankful for having shared her life are her daughters: Mary (Michael) Voss of Columbus, NE and Cheryl Lindemann of Columbus, OH; grandchildren: Andrea Brattmiller of Council Bluffs, IA, Ryland Brattmiller of Lincoln, NE, Brady Tapley, Alexander Jespersen and Logan Lindemann, all of Columbus, OH; two great grandchildren: Everett Lindemann and Olive Wilcox; two brothers: Calvin Ratzlaff and Ron (Judy) Ratzlaff, all of Avon; four nieces and four nephews.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, husband Elmer in 2015, son Eric Dean Jespersen in 1974, daughter Betty Jo Jespersen in 2007 and grandson Ryan Brattmiller in 1993.