Hoech, Sharon Ann

Sharon Ann Hoech, 68, died at home in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010, of acute leukemia, the last of several cancers she battled. Called to her eternal joy, she died in peace, confident that she would be reunited with her loved ones, those who preceded her in death and those to follow, who trust our merciful God.

Born Oct. 1, 1942, at Kankakee, Ill., Shari was the daughter of Carl W. and Jennie L. Peterson. The family residence in nearby Momence remained her home, except for her college years, until she married at the age of 21 and moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Shari taught sixth grade at Monroe School for two years, after which she turned to nurturing her family and developing her interests in early and medieval music, international travel and landscape gardening. She operated her own landscape design company for many years, retiring in 2008.

Shari was preceded in death by her parents, Carl Peterson (1963) and Jennie Peterson Turner (1993); her stepfather, Harold Turner (1985); and a sister-in-law, Nesta Hoech Lenhart (1970).

She is survived by her husband, Gary Hoech, of Cedar Rapids, whom she married April 25, 1964, in Momence, Ill.; a stepbrother, John Turner and wife Carol of St. Charles, Ill.; two sons and their wives, Karl and Janet Hoech and Peter and Kathlene Hoech; a granddaughter, Annest Elisabet Hoech, all of Cedar Rapids; in-laws, Fred and Margaret Lenhart of Crestwood, Mo., Marvin and Ruth Hoech of Springfield, Ill., and Robert and Cheryl Hoech of Cedar Rapids; an aunt, Helen Weissflug of Chesterfield, Mo.; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Shari was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Hiawatha, where she served on the Worship Planning committee; Joy, her Christian women's prayer group; the Cedar Rapids Garden Club, in which she served on the Conservation and Flood Fund committees; the Marvin Cone Art Club, of which she was treasurer; and the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, where served as a docent.

Having been very interested in art history, Shari is remembered for her intense desire to immerse herself in the cultures of other nations so that she could directly experience their music, sculpture, paintings and cuisines.

She is greatly missed by her family, for whom she was a devoted wife and mother, and by many others, some of whom claimed her as their “best friend.”

Visitation will be Sunday, Dec. 19, 2 to 7 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home and Monday, Dec. 20, 10 a.m., immediately preceding the 11 a.m. funeral service at Zion Lutheran Church, 201 First Ave., Hiawatha.

Memorial contributions payable to or designated for Zion Lutheran Church, the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Mayo Clinic or the National Cancer Institute may be sent to Shari's family, who will forward them to the intended recipients.