Rachel Sharp

1929 - 2025

Rachel (nee Worrell) Sharp

March 6, 1929 - July 30, 2025

Rachel Sharp (nee Worrell), age 96 of Juneau, Wisconsin, passed away Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at the Beaver Dam Health Care Center.

Rachel was born March 6, 1929, in Keokuk, Iowa, to June D. (nee Baker) and Alpha F. Worrell. She was raised on the family farm in Chili Township in Hancock County, Illinois.

She studied journalism at Western Illinois University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. It is there that she met her husband to be, Ralph E. Sharp Jr. They were united in marriage on July 28, 1951, in Champaign, IL. They moved to Eau Claire, WI and in 1956 relocated to Iron Ridge. In 1963 the Sharp family moved to Juneau where Rachel worked as Deputy Clerk from 1972 until her retirement on April 2, 1994. She also served in Juneau as Alderperson in the early 2000's, was a longtime member of the Juneau Chamber of Commerce and St. Stephen's United Church of Christ.

Rachel wrote poetry and short stories and often shared memories with family and friends via Facebook. Rachel and her husband were frequent golfers in her younger days, a game she very much enjoyed. She was an avid Bridge player, playing in several bridge clubs over the years and recently playing at least once a week. She also enjoyed baking bread, outdoor plants and flower gardening, taking rides in the country sightseeing, and watching birds from her porch. Rachel was known for her wit and sense of humor. As a sister-in-law once said to her "Oh, Rachel, you are such a wag!"

Rachel is survived by her children, Ralph III of Juneau, Patricia of Madison, Andrew (Kim Mindham) of Richland Center, Lisa of Sunnyvale, CA, and Bruce of Juneau; grandchildren, Atticus (Lauren), Ossian (fiancé, Aubrey), Olivia, and Arrian; step-grandchildren, Katherine and Elyse Becker; and great-granddaughter, Ruth; family friend, Harlan James "Jim" Brown and former daughter-in-law, Lina Palionis. She is further survived by nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Rachel was preceded in death by her parents; parents-in-law, Ralph E. and Velma Loretta Sharp; husband, Ralph Jr.; siblings, Helen Winifred "Winnie" Stephenson and Olaf Wilson "Bill" Worrell; step-granddaughter, Ashley Becker.

A memorial gathering will be held on Monday, August 11, 2025, from 4 to 6:45 p.m., concluding with a time of sharing beginning at 7 p.m. at the Berndt Ledesma Funeral Home, 150 W. Oak Grove Street, Juneau, WI 53039. Future interment will be in Washington Cemetery, Cumberland County, IL.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Rachel to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF,) are appreciated in the care of her family.

The Berndt Ledesma Funeral Home is serving the family. Condolences and tributes may be shared at berndt-ledesmafuneralhome.com.