Sharon K Ginger

10/20/1960-1/17/2024

Sharon Kathryn Ginger (Wieck), the daughter of Thomas John Wieck and Joyce Rennae Wieck (Hertz), entered into eternal rest at Josie Harper Hospice House on January 17, 2024 after a decade-long fight against Primary Progressive Aphasia/Frontotemporal Dementia. She was 63.

Sharon was born in Grand Island, Nebraska on October 20, 1960. Sharon attended District 1R School which, at the time, was a K-12 one-room schoolhouse. The family moved to Ravenna, Nebraska where Tom owned Ravenna Livestock. The family then returned to Grand Island where her father operated Grand Island Livestock. In 1985, Tom and Joyce started Tom Wieck Auction and Realty which Sharon actively played a role, clerking household and estate auctions while assisting in the bookkeeping and accounting for the family business until her health forced her to give that up in 2018.

In her youth, Sharon enjoyed a love of riding horses with her sisters and brother nearly every day and, like her three siblings, participated in 4-H showing steers at the Hall County Fair. She participated in Brownies and Girl Scouts. Sharon was selected as the Northwest representative for the Harvest of Harmony Queen Pageant her Senior year at Grand Island Northwest High School where she also sang in the school choir and was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America graduating in 1979.

Soon after graduation, Sharon entered the banking world with Commercial National Bank in Grand Island working in the auditing department. Sharon also worked at KRGI-AM and Country 96 FM Radio in Grand Island as the Program/Traffic Coordinator, and Northwest National Bank in Grand Island which later became Union Bank and Trust.

On July 1,1989, Sharon was united in marriage to Tracey Ginger at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Grand Island. With this union, Sharon embraced the role of stepmom to Tracey’s two sons, Tony and Andy Ginger. Sharon and Tracey welcomed their daughter, Courtney Ann Ginger, into their life on February 28th, 1992. Three years later, Sharon and Tracey received double the pleasure with twin sons Jack Nicklaus Ginger and Nicholas Scott Ginger on February 4th, 1995. Sharon left the banking industry following the birth of their twins focusing on the care of their children. The family moved to Papillion, Nebraska in 1998 following a promotion for Tracey, who worked for GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals. Sharon continued to care for their children at home until Jack and Nick began school in Papillion. In 2001, she began employment with the Papillion-LaVista School District working in accounts payable and payroll until July 2016 when her health necessitated stepping away from the workforce.

While there is no cure for PPA/FTD, Sharon did not let that diagnosis deter her from tackling it head on, refusing to bow down to its terminal sentence. At the time of diagnosis, she was given by Mayo Neurologists a survival time frame of 4-7 years. Buoyed by her faith, strength, determination, stubbornness, sheer will and immense love and support from her family, Sharon far surpassed that by being with us for 8 ½ years post diagnosis. Staying active both physically and mentally is currently the only pathway to slowing the progression of the disease, Sharon walked surrounding neighborhoods and at times nearby trails with a caregiver to the tune of 20,000-30,000 steps per day. She also participated in speech therapy for several years both in and out of the home. Unfortunately, the disease progression eventually caught up to her and Sharon entered into hospice in February 2023 and moved into the Josie Harper Hospice House in April of last year.

Sharon was steadfast in her faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that faith never wavered as she knew that she would be renewed in the perfect version of herself in Heaven leaving behind her earthly body. One of Sharon’s favorite verses was Ephesians 6:10-20 “Put on the full armor of God…”. Sharon deeply loved and was highly protective of her family. She never missed a game, meet or match, braving heat, rain, wind and sleet to cheer on Courtney, Jack and Nick. Sharon was the family’s biggest cheerleader and active participant in any activity that included a ball and bat, a basketball, a golf club, a football, a soccer ball, a bowling ball, or anything that may involve a physical challenge. While not a golfer, she rarely missed walking or riding a round while Tracey and their children or friends played. And one of the activities she was most proud of while quietly participating as she never sought accolades, was her involvement in the student mentoring program Teammates, a program started by former Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne. During her employment with the Papillion-LaVista School District, Sharon joined Teammates wanting to make a positive impact on young lives. One key aspect of being a Teammates mentor was to just show up, and showing up and being present is who Sharon was…in everything.

Sharon’s hobbies were simple yet meaningful…attending her children’s activities, attending church and bible study, biking, running/walking, baking, listening to her favorite country and contemporary Christian music, watching comedies and crime dramas. She decorated the home for whatever season or holiday was being celebrated with Christmas being her favorite. She demanded the Christmas tree be up the day following Thanksgiving and in later years, Christmas lights stayed on the house year-round giving them a new meaning depending on the holiday. Sharon turned them on nightly.

Sharon was preceded in death by her father Tom, her maternal and paternal grandparents. She is survived by her mother Joyce Wieck; husband, Tracey; 3 children, Courtney Tinch and husband Bret, Jack Ginger and wife Ashley, Nick Ginger and wife Hannah; two step-sons, Tony Ginger and wife Molli, and Andy Ginger; two grandchildren, Elizabeth Ginger and Henry Ginger, one grandson, Thomas Ginger, due next month; two step-grandchildren, Carter Ginger and Kaylin Ginger; two sisters, Patsy Mettenbrink and husband John, Lisa Mayer and husband John; one brother, Chuck Wieck and wife Jane; and several nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends. Sharon’s family donated her brain to the Mayo Neurology Department for furthering research into PPA/FTD with the hope that at least one person will benefit from the knowledge gained through their findings.

A celebration of Sharon’s life will be held with a Visitation with family Friday, February 2nd, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Kahler-Dolce Mortuary, 441 N Washington St, Papillion, Nebraska 68046.

A Memorial Service will occur Saturday, February 3rd, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Calvary Christian Church, 10100 Cedar Island Road North Campus, Bellevue, Nebraska 68123.

Memorials may be made to the family for future considerations.