Sharon Eckstrom

Sharon Louise (Moore) Eckstrom, 73, died Friday, January 8, 2010 at Mercy Hospice in Johnston. Sharon was born on April 16, 1936 in Davis City, Iowa at her grandparents’ home, to Mabel Myers and Loris Stoneburner. The family lived in Des Moines.

Sharon attended school through the ninth grade in Des Moines. Her parents divorced and in 1950 Sharon’s family moved with her mother’s new husband to Long Beach, CA. Sharon attended Poly Technical High School for her sophomore year, in 1952 she moved back to Iowa. Upon graduating from Newton High School in 1954, Sharon moved back to Des Moines and started her professional career as a Dental Assistant.

She was married in 1955 to Joe R. Moore. Three children were born of that marriage: Paula Jo, Gregory Ronald, and Derrick McKinley; she divorced in 1971. After thirteen years in private practice as a Dental Assistant she was hired in 1967 by Area XI Vocational Institute (now DMACC) to begin a Dental Assistant Education Program. Besides a full-time job at DMACC and being a single parent to three children, she found time to attend ISU and received her B.S. degree in 1980.

During her professional career in Dental Assisting and Vocational Education, Sharon was active in her professional associations serving as president of her local dental association as well as state president. In the area of Vocational Education, she also served as president for Health Occupations Region 3-American Vocational Association and as the Iowa representative and president of AVA-National Health Occupations.

In 1983 she was remarried to Robert Eckstrom and moved with her youngest son, Derrick, to Hudson, IA. She continued to commute to DMACC until March 1986. Wanting to spend more time with the family and to be there for Derrick and stepson, Kurt Eckstrom as they finished their senior years of high school, she left DMACC and began a new career as a Community Educator and Area Manager for Planned Parenthood of Cedar Falls. Sharon used her educational background and management skills to start a new Planned Parenthood Clinic. From 1986-1995 she continued in other management roles for Planned Parenthood.

Bob and Sharon decided to retire in 1995 and moved from Cedar Falls to Rogers, AR for another new venture in their lives. In 1998, due to health problems that Bob was having, they moved back to Ankeny, IA. Not able to sit still for long, Sharon went back to Planned Parenthood for an interim role as Vice President of Education. Bob, the love of her life, was re-diagnosed with lung cancer in 2000 and following another round of chemotherapy and radiation passed away in March of 2001.

After Bob’s death, wanting to stay active Sharon volunteered her time to help the Planned Parenthood Book Sale, DMACC Pioneers, Ankeny First Methodist Church and the Home Owners association where she lived.

Sharon was re-diagnosed with Breast Cancer that had metastasized to her bones in 2005 and lost a long courageous fight with the disease.

Sharon is survived by her four children, Paula Moore (Scott Horne), Gregory Moore (Janette), Derrick Moore (Kim), Kurt Eckstrom (Jennifer); grandson, John Franklin Adams; sisters, Gretchen (Jack Chase), Kaye Stevens; many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 am Saturday January 16, 2010 at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines. Burial or cremated remains will take place in Marion, Kansas at a later date. A visitation with the family present will be from 9:00 am – 10:00am at Hamilton’s.

Memorial contributions may be made in Sharon’s memory to the following organizations:
1. Mercy Hospice, 5820 Winwood Drive, Johnston, Iowa 50131
2. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, P.O. Box 4557,
Des Moines, Iowa 50305
3. DMACC Foundation Pioneers Scholarship Fund, 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd. Bldg. 22, Ankeny, Iowa 50023

Online condolences may be made to www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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