Shirley Lydia Scharp Mikalauski

Mom was born on February 18, 1928, to Helena Kopeschke and Elden Scharp, in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. She died peacefully at her residence on August 21, 2021. She is survived by her brothers Richard Scharp, Robert Scharp and Elden Scharp. She was the mother of 8 children, Peter (Nancy), Peggy (Frank), Sheila (Ray), Sharon, Norma (Paul), Allison (Billy), Phil (Julene), and Kimberly. She has 15 Grandchildren and 29 Great Grandchildren. Mom was preceded in death by her Husband Peter, Daughter Kimberly, and Granddaughter Chandra.

Mom was full of life and had a “wander lust”. She traveled to and lived in many places in the United States. She always talked of Rhinelander, Wisconsin as her birthplace and home, but she loved her Utah Mountains. She was an avid Utah Jazz and Chicago Cubs fan, but loved all sports, including Football and Hockey. She loved reading, especially mystery novels and love stories. Mom had a passion for crocheting and doing her plastic canvas crafts. She gifted each of her children and her grandchildren with a special crocheted blanket, just for them.

Mom loved grapefruit, especially the ones grown on Peggy’s grapefruit tree in California, Ghirardelli Chocolate, and Applebee’s Riblets – but only from the Applebee’s on Redwood Road. Wherever mom went she walked or took the public transit system, she refused to drive. However, she was an excellent right seat or backseat driver. She knew the public transit system and bus routes very well and managed to get everywhere she wanted to go.

Mom worked until her late 60’s, finishing her office career as a receptionist in the Salt Lake City Temple. She had an impeccable memory and could recite names, dates, places, events and many more things without taking a minute to think about it.

There are a couple of things that mom did not like or rather despised; The color “Pink” - her favorite colors were peach and green. She did not like Frank Sinatra, or better known to her as “Frank Snotrag”. Don’t even bring up fishing or eating fish. She tells stories of how she would have to go fishing every week – and they ate a lot of fish! She would wrinkle up her nose and tell me they couldn’t pay her to eat a fish now.

She was so proud of her children and grandchildren and always commented on how wonderful it would be to have a big family reunion picnic - and boy wouldn’t it be somethin. She couldn’t believe that she had such a great posterity and that we would have to rent a place just to fit us all. “My, My, isn’t that somethin”, she would say with the biggest grin and chuckle.

Mom lived and blessed us for 93-1/2 years “but who’s counting”. We love and miss you Mom. May you always be in God’s care and in our hearts.