Sharron J. Mitchell

Sharron J. Mitchell passed away on January 14, 2023 at age 79.
Survived by her loving siblings Beverly (the late Harold) St. Peter, Gary (JoAnn) Mitchell, Shirley (the late Darrel Whynot) Mitchell, and Dennis Mitchell. Further survived by her much-loved nieces and nephews Susan St. Peter, Michael (Rachel) Mitchell, Christopher (Hashini) Mitchell, Lindsay (David) McPherson, and Matthew (Sara) Mitchell. Preceded in death by her parents Dean and Lois Mitchell and brothers-in-law Harold St. Peter and Darrel Whynot. Sharron adored her family-her nieces, nephews and her many friends and students.
Sharron attended Brookfield Central High School and earned her degree in Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1965. Upon graduating she worked in Kidney Research at the University Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. The research team of six doctors and three research assistants was very successful at kidney transplants early on when others around the country were not. Eventually, the team was split up to go and teach others.
Sharron went on to teach chemistry at West Leyden High School in Illinois, Big Foot and Whitefish Bay High Schools in Wisconsin. She loved her students and worked very hard to help them learn, enjoy and see the relevance of chemistry in their lives. Her goal was to have her students think her class was the very best class they had ever had.
She loved traveling and had traveled to 48 of the 50 states, as well as Europe and the eastern Caribbean Islands.
She loved skiing and spent over 25 years on the National Ski Patrol. She was assistant Patrol director and Patrol Director at Swiss Valley, Sunburst and Crystal Ridge. For years she was SE WI Sectional Training Director and later Sectional Testing Director. She trained and tested First Aid for the ski patrol for many years. Each spring she traveled out west with her ski patrol friends and skied nearly all the well known ski areas in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. Sharron was chosen as ski patroller of the year for the section, division, and ultimately was awarded the Silver Star nationally for her efforts. She was known for her picnics, parties and events she planned for the patrol.
She became a private pilot and loved flying. She bought a Piper Cherokee. She flew her plane to just about all of the airports in Southern Wisconsin. She enjoyed the people and the time she spent at Capitol Airport. She was an original member of VAA Chapter 11, a board member, scholarship team and monthly newsletter Editor for 35 years. Her newsletters were famous for their interesting people stories, plenty of humor, and beautiful color.
In the mid-1980s she applied to the Teacher in Space Program. She was selected as one of the five finalists in Wisconsin. Her students shared her adventure and excitement.
Sharron adored her friends and family. She loved the Green Bay Packers, her beautiful flowers, her newsletters and all her creative endeavors. She was surrounded by people who enjoyed her energy, her beautiful smile, her sense of humor and her parties. She was honest, courageous and strong, yet kind and giving. She was happy and excited each day in the joy of living. She gave the gift of time to her family, friends, and students in the many activities she volunteered to do. That was her abiding gift to all of us.
A Memorial Gathering will take place at Krause Funeral Home, 21600 West Capitol Drive, Brookfield, Wisconsin on Saturday, July 15th, 2023 from 10:00 AM – 11:45 AM with service at 12:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to EAA Vintage Chapter 11 Scholarship Fund (21500 Gumina Road, Brookfield, WI 53072-2958) would be appreciated.