Sharon Mavis (Wittenberg) Bird, age 76 of Shakopee, went home to the Lord on Friday, June 29, 2018. A visitation will be held Friday, July 6, 2018 from 4-7PM at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, 833 S. Marschall Rd., Shakopee. Funeral service will be Saturday, July 7, 2018 at 11AM with a visitation beginning at 9:30AM, all at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 12700 Marystown Rd., Shakopee. Interment will follow at 3PM at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Arlington. Pastor John Stelljes will preside. Memorials are preferred and will be distributed by Sharon’s family to her favorite charities. Pallbearers will be Daniel Kasten, Tina Kasten, Lisa Graves, David Graves, Mary Kasten & Stephanie Gruber.
Memorials are preferred and will be distributed by Sharon’s family to her favorite charities.
On October 7, 1941, parents Elmer and Sarah (Jahnke) Wittenberg celebrated the birth of their daughter, Sharon. She was one of four children to be raised in Winthrop, MN. From a young age, it was apparent that Sharon was ambitious. Aspiring to attend college, she began teaching accordion lessons to earn money.
Following her high school graduation, Sharon continued her education at Martin Luther College in New Ulm. After completing her schooling, Sharon was assigned a teaching position in Fairfax, MN.
The best chapter of Sharon’s life began when she was introduced to Carl Henry Bird, a young airman stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. After corresponding through letters, Sharon and Carl’s friendship turned into love. On June 21, 1963, the couple was married at Zion Lutheran Church in Winthrop. Their union was blessed with 55 years of marriage and a loving family.
Sharon and Carl briefly lived in Nevada and St. Paul, MN, before settling in Shakopee. While Sharon dedicated her time to raising her family, she also worked outside of the home. For 21 years she was the office administrator for the Shakopee Junior and Senior High Schools. She also worked for Scott County Land Records for 11 years.
Family was important to Sharon—she was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister. The family loved to camp and travel, taking bi-annual road trips out west. Her favorite trip was through Canada to Alaska. As her family grew, Sharon loved supporting her grandchildren. She attended every school event, big or small, and made herself available whenever needed. She exemplified the saying, “When mom says no, ask grandma!”
Sharon truly had a servant’s heart—she was strong in her faith and believed in demonstrating it in her life. She played the organ at Mount Olive from 1969 until 2015, taught Sunday school, and sang in the choir. She especially enjoyed volunteering at Vacation Bible School during the summers! Sharon made a point to invite children unfamiliar with the church to attend.
Despite her diagnosis of breast cancer, followed by a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, Sharon’s faith never wavered. For over 8 years, she handled health complications caused by chemotherapy with grace and dignity. She never let it stop her from enjoying life. She was a die-hard Twins fan, loved to garden, and spend time with family and friends.
Sharon was a considerate, compassionate woman who touched the lives of many people. She will be loved and missed by her husband, Carl Bird; daughter, Myra (Charles) Cappuccino: son, Bradley (Dawn) Bird; grandchildren, Ashley Cappuccino, Alexandra Cappuccino, Ellen Bird, Wyatt Bird, Samuel Bird; great-granddaughter, Alison Kish; sister, Joann (Kenneth) Kasten; sister-in-law, Renee Wittenberg; other relatives and friends.
Sharon is greeted in Heaven by her parents; her granddaughter, Jenna Faith Bird; and brothers, Roger Wittenberg and Lamar Wittenberg.
