Sharon Marie (Koppernagel) Neel, 83, passed away March 4, 2025. Funeral services will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Indianola, IA on March 20, 2025, at 11:00 am. Visitation will be at the church beginning at 10:00 am. A brief graveside service and burial will be at the Belmond Cemetery, where her parents and grandparents are buried, on March 21, 2025, at 11:00 am.
Sharon was born March 9, 1941, in Belmond, IA to Elizabeth Louise (Gabel) and Andrew Earl Koppernagel. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Belmond. Sharon graduated from Belmond High School with the class of 1959.
Sharon met her husband John Warren Neel at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. They were married at the Little Brown Church in Nashua on April 14, 1962. They had three children, John William, Joni Marie and Timothy Andrew. Sharon and John lived on farms in Mason City and Manly for 28 years. Sharon was active in church, school and community activities in Manly.
After retiring from farming, Sharon and John spent many enjoyable years traveling and going out west for the winters. In 1991, they moved to Chariton, IA and became members of First Lutheran Church, Chariton Valley Players, Women’s Club, and the Volunteer Services. She enjoyed being involved in the Church and volunteering in community activities. They moved to Indianola, IA in 2022 and became members of Redeemer Lutheran Church. In 2024 they moved to Walnut Ridge assisted living in Clive, IA.
Sharon is survived by her husband John, children John (Shelby) Neel of Des Moines, Joni (Bill) Swedenhjelm of Norwalk, and Tim (Laurie) Neel of Clinton, MT. Grandchildren John (Sami) Neel, Jeffrey (Paige) Neel, Jenna (Marcus) Heintschel, Jack Neel, Andrew (Lily) Swedenhjelm, Joseph (Sade’) Swedenhjelm, Joshua (Chloe) Davis-Smith, Emily (Brady) Rhoda and Josh Leahy. Great Grandchildren Elsie and Aniston Neel, James Heintschel, Theo and Isaac Swedenhjelm, Liam Swedenhjelm, and Beau and Rylan Rhoda. She is also survived by her sister Alice Christensen and brother Allen (Linda) Koppernagel.
Sharon was preceded in death by her parents Elizabeth and Andrew Koppernagel, stepfather Joe Lepper and brother-in-law Richard Christensen.
Memorial contributions may be made in Sharon’s memory to the American Diabetes Association.