Sharon Forssman

“For everything there is a season . . .

In the spring season of her life, Sharon Marie (Zieman) Forssman was born on June 17, 1943, in Monona, Iowa, to Curtis and Marie Zieman. She and her four sisters grew up on a family farm near Luana, Iowa. Her love of music and girls’ basketball began as she went through Luana schools and then graduated from MFL (Monona, Luana, Farmersburg) in 1961.

In the summer season of Sharon’s life, she attended the State College of Iowa (now the University of Northern Iowa) and graduated with a BA in French Education in 1965. At State College of Iowa, she met her soulmate, John Forssman, while working in the cafeteria, and the season of married love began. They were married in 1965 in the Luana Lutheran Church and recently celebrated their 59th anniversary.

Sharon and John lived in Janesville, Iowa, for the first two years of their married life while Sharon taught French and English at Janesville High School. Then later, they moved to Waterloo, Iowa, where their first daughter, LuAnn Michele, was born in 1967, and Sharon’s life-long season of motherhood began. In 1969, they moved their growing family to Ames, IA. In 1971 Deborah Lynne was born, followed by Holly Renee in 1973.

In Ames, Sharon changed her focus from the classroom to providing in-home childcare. For thirty years, she lovingly nurtured over a hundred children. Sharon and John also found a church home in Bethesda Lutheran where she taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and worked in the nursery.

The autumn (Sharon’s favorite season) brought retirement in 2007, allowing her more time to play her beloved piano, read books, attend a weekly water exercise class, and participate in a book club. Into her circle of love, Sharon welcomed three sons-in-law and six precious grandchildren.

During the winter season of her life, there were many challenging circumstances that she met with courage, hope, gratitude, and a noble dignity. In the final season of her life, Sharon and John joined their oldest daughter LuAnn and husband Dan living together on Suncrest Drive in Ames. She passed away at the Israel Hospice House in Ames on July 18, 2024, surrounded by her family.

Sharon will forever be held in the hearts of her husband, John; her daughters, LuAnn (Dan) Van Weelden of Ames, Deborah (Brent) Hill of Conway, AR; Holly (Keith) Lyles of Ankeny, IA; grandchildren, Olivia (Blake) Nicholson, Connor Van Weelden, Nyden and Hugh Hill, Ellie and Riley Lyles; sisters, Dianne Sudol of Ferryville, WI, Kathy (Glen) Meisner of Iowa City, IA, Cindy (Harvey) Block of Spotsylvania, VA, and Robin (Doug) Bernhard of Coralville, IA; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other loved ones, and dear friends.

To celebrate Sharon’s life, memorial gifts can be directed to Israel Hospice House of Ames, Bliss Cancer Center in Ames, the Ames Public Library, and Bethesda Lutheran Church (please designate the food pantry, music ministries, or children’s ministries).

Condolences and memories of Sharon may be shared with John Forssman and his family at either their home addresses or www.AmesCremation.com.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, August 6, at 2:00 PM at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Ames, Iowa. Live-streaming of the memorial service will be available.

. . . a time for every purpose under heaven”