Sharon Anderson, 81

   Sharon Lee (Yakel) Anderson, 81, of Lincoln, NE, passed away at Bryan West Medical Center in Lincoln on Thursday, May 8, 2025, after a cardiac event on April 25th.

   Sharon was born on December 17, 1943, in Lincoln to Don and Emma Yakel. After graduating from University High School in 1961 in Lincoln, she was united in marriage to Gerald “Jerry” Anderson on June 9, 1962. Jerry and Sharon had two children: Steven (1967) and Michael (1969). The family lived in Lincoln until 1980, when they relocated to the Baudette, MN, area for Jerry’s job. While in Minnesota, Sharon worked at several positions in the banking industry until retiring from the Baudette branch of Border State Bank, where she served as Branch President.

   In 2006, her husband Jerry suddenly passed away. Sharon stayed in the Border area until selling the home and returning to Lincoln in 2010. Her son Michael suffered from kidney disease, and she became his caregiver for the last years of his life. Michael passed away on January 27, 2020.

   Sharon loved spending time with family and friends, drinking an icy-cold margarita or Diet Coke, visiting, and shopping. She also loved to quilt, cook, travel, camp, go “wheeling,” keeping in touch with friends “up north,” and taking care of her beloved wiener dogs.

   Sharon’s life was a life well-lived; she gave thanks for every sunrise or sunset that she enjoyed. While she may have had some struggles with the darkness of grief along the way, she felt incredibly blessed that she was open to God’s grace every day. She strived to be a blessing to others as they had been a blessing to her. 

   Sharon is survived by her son Steven (Cheryl) Anderson of Sarasota, FL, and brother Gary (Jean) Yakel of Lincoln, NE. She is also survived by a brother-in-law (Lyndon) and a sister-in-law (Janet), two grandchildren, Emily Anderson and Carolyn Hawk, two nieces and three nephews, and by three great-grandchildren: Abbey, Millie, and Eli.

   She is preceded in death by her parents, Don and Emma Yakel, her husband, Jerry, her son, Michael, her sister, Marilyn, and a sister-in-law, Margaret.

   A Memorial service will be held at Southwood Lutheran Church, 4301 Wilderness Hills Blvd, Lincoln, NE on May 19, 2025 at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to “Cause For Paws” in Lincoln or Southwood Lutheran Church.