Sharon Jane Jenkins, 79, of Ames, Iowa, passed away on November 12, 2025. She was born on June 28, 1946, in Erie, Pennsylvania, to Jack C. Jenkins and Elizabeth (Betty) Jane Hoebreckx. Sharon grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Erie High School. She had a passion for science and biology, earning her undergraduate degree from Mercyhurst College. During her time in college, she worked for the VA Hospital in Erie, drawing blood for patients. She later completed her graduate studies at Iowa State University, where she met the love of her life, Peter B. Moore. On June 10, 1972, Sharon and Peter married and shared 53 wonderful years of marriage. In the early years of their marriage, Sharon and Peter enjoyed motorcycles. Sharon owned two motorcycles and delighted in riding them alongside Peter before they started their family. After graduating with her master’s degree, she dedicated 37 years to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory as a microbiologist, where her passion for science and meticulous work left a lasting impression. Her children fondly remember her stories from the lab.
Faith and the church community were cornerstones of Sharon’s life. A devoted member of St. Cecilia Catholic Church, she attended Mass regularly and prayed the rosary daily. She served as a longtime member of the St. Cecilia court of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, holding many leadership roles, including regent. In later years, she found great joy in teaching children through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program, continuing her service until her final days.
Sharon’s interests were as vibrant as her spirit. For nearly 25 years, she and Peter were active members of the Gilbert Guys and Gals square dancing club, delighting in matching outfits and lively evenings with friends. She was also an avid gardener, earning her Master Gardener certification and creating stunning gardens that bloomed from spring through fall. Her family treasures memories of walking through her gardens with her and seeing what was blooming. She would teach her kids and grandkids the different names of flowers. She shared her love for nature with anyone she could. As a grandmother, she loved watching anything that her grandchildren were involved in, especially dance, musical concerts, and sports activities. Sharon had a lifelong love for animals, especially dogs. Her faithful companion, Missy, will deeply miss her presence.
She is survived by her beloved husband, Peter; her children and their spouses: Melinda Jenkins-Moore and Adam Thurston, Katharine (Jenkins-Moore) and Jordan Hensley, and Daniel and Katie (Timm) Moore; and her cherished grandchildren: Liam and Teagan Thurston, Harrison, Elizabeth, and Hazel Hensley, and Alexandra, Gabriel, and Thalia Moore. Sharon also leaves behind her sisters Pam Kowalewski, Debbie MacMartin, Jackie Curtis, and Becky Jenkins.
Sharon will be remembered for her unwavering love for family, her strong faith, and her joyful laugh, especially when shared with her sisters. She passed down traditions of baking Christmas cookies, making jam from fruit from her orchard and berry patches, and gardening, leaving a legacy of warmth and togetherness.
Visitation will be held at St. Cecilia Catholic Church on Thursday, November 20, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a rosary immediately following. The funeral Mass will follow on Friday, November 21, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Burial will take place in the Calvary section of Ames Municipal Cemetery, with a light luncheon afterward at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Cecilia’s Building Fund or the Faith and Light Capital Campaign.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” – Matthew 5:9
