Phyllis A. Sharpe

PORTAGE  -- Phyllis A. Sharpe, age 74, of Portage, died on Friday, June 5, 2009 at St. Clare Hospice House in Baraboo.

Phyllis was born on June 24, 1934 in Portage, the daughter of Edwin and Bessie (Petra) Graves.  She was married on June 22, 1957 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Portage to Vernon “Butch” Sharpe.  Phyllis was a lifelong member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Portage.

Phyllis enjoyed reading and was an avid bridge player.

She is survived by her husband, Vernon;  two sons, Rykart (Nancy) Sharpe and Kevin (Jennifer) Sharpe;  her grandchildren, Michael, Nickie, Alec, Hailey and Abby;  her sisters, Carol Messer, Elizabeth Krueger, Allison (LaVerne) Pulvermacher, and Lucille (Robert) Wheeler;  her brother, Kenneth (Jeanne) Graves;  her sister-in-law, Delores Graves;  many beloved nieces and nephews;  her special friend, Mickey Barry, Heber Springs, Arkansas;  other relatives and many close friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents;  her father and mother-in-law, Vernon and Marie Sharpe;  her daughter-in-law, Lisa Fink Sharpe in 1999;  her brother, Alburn Graves;  three sisters, Eunice Schehr, June Mielke, and Ruth Paske;  and four brothers-in-law, Floyd Schehr, Wilbur Krueger, Lloyd Mielke, and Arless Paske.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Portage, with Fr. Jim Murphy presiding.  Private family burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Portage.  Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, at the church.

The family requests no flowers.  Memorials will be sent to the Mayo Clinic Cancer Research Program.

The family wishes to express their appreciation for the excellent care given to Phyllis, especially Dr. Brenda Blohm of Divine Savior Hospital and Dr. Harry J. Long at the Mayo Clinic.

The Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage is assisting the family.  www.pmmfh.com