Sharon Gimpel

Sharon Gimpel, age 70, of Aurora, passed away on Sunday, January 2, 2011 at her home.

A Graveside Service will be held 11:00 A.M. Thursday, January 13th at the Aurora Cemetery. Pastor Karl Larson will officiate. Higby-McQuiston Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Evangelical Covenant Church or the Food Pantry. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com.

OBITUARY: SHARON GIMPEL

Sharon S. Gimpel, the daughter of Paul and Myrna (Christman) Swanson, was born in Elkhorn, Nebraska on December 8, 1940 and died in Aurora, Nebraska on January 2, 2011, at the age of 70.

Sharon attended Stromsburg Grade School and graduated in 1959 from Stromsburg High School. She graduated from Beauty School in Grand Island in 1960. Sharon was a beautician for Ross Beauty Shop in Aurora for 4 ½ years. She bought Ross Beauty Shop and changed the name to Sharon’s Beauty Shop, where she was owner and operator for 25 years. Sharon was a part-time beautician at Hamilton Manor for 22 years. She became an Avon representative in 1988.

Sharon was married to H. Dean Gimpel from Giltner on August 31, 1969. Dean passed away on August 15, 1972.

Sharon was baptized at the Stromsburg Baptist Church during her junior high years. Sharon and Dean became members of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Aurora. She taught beginners Sunday School class for three years; was church deaconess for six years and made coffee for Sunday School for the last 28 years. Sharon believed very much in prayer and spent a lot of time praying. She was a member of the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the Hamilton Manor Auxiliary and delivered Meals on Wheels for several years. Sharon liked to bake, cook and entertain.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

Sharon is survived by her sister, Penny (Bob) Stevens of Juneau, Alaska; brother, Lionel (Jane) Swanson of Mesa, Arizona and several nieces and nephews. She is also survived by three brothers-in-law, Garry (Arlene) Gimpel and Larry (Elaine) Gimpel both of Aurora and Maurice McNerney of Grand Island and three sisters-in-law, Ruth Ann Decker of Grand Island, Lucille Thompsen and Dianne Gimpel both of Aurora.