Sharon Jean Hanusin

1938 - 2019

Sharon Jean Hanusin (nee Lenz) passed away peacefully while surrounded by family at Highland Park Hospital on December 27th at the age of 80 after a more than twenty year struggle with cancer. She was the treasured wife of John Hanusin, loving mother of Mark Hanusin (Lynnette), and beloved grandmother of Katelyn and Bethany Hanusin. Sharon was born in Evanston, IL on May 19, 1938 to Edgar and Marguerite Lenz (nee Horne). She was a graduate of Evanston Township High School and held bachelor's and multiple master's degrees from Valparaiso University. She taught in the public school systems of Hammond IN, Skokie, IL and Northbrook IL. As a dedicated servant of the Lord, and at the invitation of Pastor Richard Gotsch, she founded The Mustard Seed Nursery School at Grace Lutheran Church in Northbrook, IL in 1982. The school was successful in bringing up hundreds of children in the Lutheran faith and many children that were educated there have brought their children to the school. She continued to teach there for more than 30 years until her retirement. She also taught part-time and was active in other church activities until very recently. She aggressively sought to use her status as a cancer patient as a platform to study the disease so that future generations might find more effective treatment. She participated in experimental anti-cancer drug therapies at Highland Park Hospital, researched the extensive cancer history of her Lenz family ancestors (of northwest Iowa) and published the histories going back more than ninety years. These results were revised annually and distributed to the extended family around the country. Sharon's energy and tireless dedication (despite her pain and discomfort) will be missed by all who knew her.Services were held Saturday, January 12, 2019 at Grace Lutheran Church -2245 Walters Ave., Northbrook, Illinois. For further information please call the funeral home at 847-515-8772 or on-line condolences may be directed to www.defiorefuneral.com