Sharon L. Shinkle

Sharon L. Shinkle was born in Topeka Kansas on January 10, 1938, and joined dad (Don Shinkle), her daughter (Nicole Renee Shinkle), her mom (Louise Maurer), her father (August DeKeyser) and her son-in-law (Rod Darling) in heaven on October 1, 2025. She is survived by her brother Michael DeKeyser, her children, Kim Darling and Mark Shinkle, her daughter in-law Erin Shinkle, her six grandchildren: Nicole & Jon Halvorsen, John Darling, Dylan Shinkle, Jake Shinkle, Jessica Shinkle, Sydney Shinkle, and her four great grandchildren: Sebastian Halvorsen, Emma Halvorsen, Joe Halvorsen and her namesake Nina Lee-Rose Halvorsen. What a legacy.

It’s hard to capture the essence of someone so deeply woven into the fabric of our lives. Mom was a woman of remarkable strength, unwavering kindness, devout faith and truly enjoyed the laughter in life that could lift any spirit.

She had a way of making you feel everything was going to be ok even when things were tough, and she carried herself with a grace that made everyone around her feel at ease.

Mom was the guiding light of our family. She was the one who quietly kept everything together – organizing our lives, planning our gatherings, and making sure every moment was special. And she brought the wealth of her accomplishments to our life as mom, she was a tomboy at heart from the beginning. She wanted to go fast and make a lot of noise. She could whistle like a New Yorker for a cab. She was a championship tap dancer, a competitive roller-skater, a pyramid climbing water-skier, a cheerleader in high school and a great beginner snow skier when we moved to Colorado. She loved history and took our family all over the east coast and Midwest to key landmarks that were pivotal in history. She’d do the research and be our tour guide. We learned more history from her than our studies at school, I think. She was so proud to be a mom, and she excelled in her professional journey as an Executive Assistant for key Department of Energy Executives (watched the Atom Bomb testing in the desert) and found her calling at the Veterans Administration Congressional Unit. She brought her empathy, competitive spirit and toughness to each of her endeavors.

She never asked for recognition. She never needed credit. She simply gave—her time, her energy, her love—because that’s who she was. She was the perfect pair to dad, who was a kid at heart and enjoyed life to its fullest. He gave her wings, and she gave him roots. She and dad showed us what love looked like.

She was also incredibly intelligent. Not just in the academic sense, but in the way she understood people, in the way she solved problems, and in the wisdom, she shared so generously. She had a quiet insight that helped guide us through life’s challenges, and she used her intelligence to build others up, never to outshine them.

She had a gift for helping us believe in ourselves. Whether you were struggling or just needed a little encouragement, she knew exactly what to say to help you stand taller. She nurtured confidence in those around her, always reminding us of our worth and our potential. She didn’t just raise children – she raised strong, compassionate leaders in her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Her legacy isn’t just in the memories we share, but in the people, we’ve become because of her. Her strength lives on in us. Her kindness echoes in the way we treat others. Her wisdom continues to guide us. Mom had a good balance of being very direct when she was coaching you or vague enough to get her point across without being mean. And her ability to laugh at herself through some of life’s best times will always warm our hearts. I especially remember our boating and camping escapades across the United States with rattlesnake encounters in the Black Hills to jumping on the bow of the boat in the Potomac River to help my dad and springboarding off into the gross water with a squeal and a laugh, or “rescuing” the family from floating out into the Atlantic ocean from the Chesapeake Bay when our boat engines conked out by flagging down a passing boat to get a tow back to the dock (much to the chagrin of dad I might add). She never wilted under pressure and stood up for her beliefs always. She nurtured our spirit, our joy in life, our faith in God and the meaning of family with love and laughter.

Mom, thank you for everything. For your love, your wisdom, your humor, and your unwavering belief in us. You were our foundation, our compass, our home. We will carry you with us, always.

We love you, and we miss you more than words can say.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Christy-Smith Funeral Homes, Morningside Chapel (1801 Morningside Ave). Graveside service will be at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Memorial Park Cemetery.