Sharon Lee Christenson

A Celebration of Life will be held on December 7, 2024, at Church of the Palms in Sun City, AZ (14808 N Boswell Blvd. Visitation 2pm, Service 2:30). Sharon Lee Christenson, 85, of Sun City AZ left this life on June 22, 2024 at Hospice of the Valley in Surprise, AZ following a 14-month battle with cancer. Sharon was a “straight shooter”, generous woman, loving mother, educator, lifelong learner, and an American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) Emerald Life Master with over 7,500 master points. Sharon was born in Hull, Iowa, on December 5, 1938, to Arthur (Art) and Wilhelmina (Billie) Kooiker. Following graduation from Hull High School, Sharon attended Central College in Pella, IA. Sharon married Morel Moss in 1959, and they had daughters BrendaJo, Shari, and Marcie. In 1975, Sharon married Van Christenson (children Sue, John, and Mary). Sharon’s professional career included schoolteacher (2nd grade), piano teacher, and later as a salesperson for The Vernon Company. Education and travel were important to Sharon. In addition to traveling across the US and Canada, Sharon visited all seven continents and more countries than we can count. In addition to travel and playing bridge, Sharon’s hobbies included the financial markets, reading, volunteering at church, spending time with her family, and weekends on Lake Pleasant with her boyfriend, Richard Stout. Sharon is survived by siblings Arloa (Nelson) Hymans, Wayne (Sue) Kooiker, Rhonna (Glenn) Fiihr, Kevin Kooiker, and Lori (Mark) Ellingson; children Sue (Michael) Favilla, John (Suzan) Christenson, Mary (Nan) Christenson, BrendaJo (John) Bowling, Shari (Jeff) Brandt and Marcie (Greg) Errico; Grandchildren Peter (Andrea) Favilla, Andy (Satoko) Favilla, Jon Kline, Elizabeth (Joe) Ovel, SaraLynn (Joseph) Wiehe, JohnWilliam (Jessica) Bowling, Tony (Kate) Roe, Andrea (Albert) Lomas, Jeffrey (Becca) Brandt, and Granite, Braun, Max and Strijker Errico; Great Grandchildren Alexandra and Louis Favilla, Elenora Favilla, Evelyn and Johanna Ovel, Abby and Joey Wiehe, and Declan, Loralei and Charlie Bowling, Henry, Archie, and Sylvia Roe; boyfriend Richard (Dick) Stout and former husband Morel Moss. Sharon was preceded in death by Van Christenson, her husband of 36 years, parents Art & Billie Kooiker and siblings Ruth and Lyle Kooiker. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Southdale YMCA, ymcanorth.org or Church of the Palms, Sun City, thepalms.org.