Funeral services for Sharon L. Conant, 62, of Jefferson, Iowa will be at 10:00 am Wednesday May 17, 2006 at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson, with burial in Franklin Township Cemetery, Cooper, Iowa.

Visitation will start at 8 AM Tuesday May 16, 2006, at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home, with family present to greet friends from 7-9 PM.

Sharon Lee Zimmerle was born January 28, 1944 in Jefferson, Iowa. She was the daughter of Phillip and Ruby Zimmerle. Sharon spent the first three years of her life on her grandfather’s farm outside of Paton. In 1947, the family moved to Jefferson, where Sharon attended school. One of her proudest moments in high school was playing the part of Hanna in the school production of “Little Women.” Every summer, her parents would take her on vacation to Minnesota.

Sharon met Roger Samuel Conant while she was in high school, and they dated until her graduation in 1962. They were united in marriage August 18, 1962 in Jefferson, Iowa. After a short honeymoon trip, the couple moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where Roger was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base.

Roger was discharged from the U.S. Air Force in September, 1963, and the young couple moved back to Jefferson. Roger began work at Franklin Manufacturing (now Electrolux) while Sharon began her career as a homemaker.

After moving to Cooper in 1966, Sharon’s life was changed by her decision to accept Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. In 1968, Sharon gave birth to their only child, Joanna Elizabeth Conant.

Sharon was a loving wife and mother. She also found time to work outside of the home at several jobs, including working at the Cooper school, as an election official, census taker, radio announcer at two local radio stations, and serving time on the Extension Council.

One of the jobs Sharon found most rewarding was babysitting. She opened her heart to many families in the area, and there are dozens of people who received knitted baby sweaters and blankets from her over the years.

Sharon was a member of the Perry Bible Church, where the devotionals she delivered touched many hearts.

After a brief illness, Sharon passed away in Des Moines on May 13th, 2006. She was preceded in death by her father, Phillip Ores Zimmerle, and her mother, Ruby Cathlena Mullins Zimmerle. She is survived by her husband, Roger Conant of rural Jefferson, daughter Joanna and her husband, Kevin Neff of Bristol, Indiana, two grandsons Kaleb Jordan Neff and Jared Van Neff, sister Phyllis and husband Jerry Moss of Minburn, brothers Francis Zimmerle of Jefferson, William Zimmerle and wife Rose of Adel, and Howard Zimmerle and wife Deborah of Fort Dodge. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, relatives and dear friends.