Sheldon J. Bieri – age 69, of Spirit Lake, formerly of Laurens, passed away on Sunday, April 24, 2022, at the Mayo Clinic Hospital, St. Mary’s Campus in Rochester, Minnesota. Funeral Services were 10:30 A.M., Friday, April 29, 2022, at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Laurens. Pastor David Klappenbach officiated. Graveside Service was 12:30 P.M., Friday, April 29, 2022, at the Okoboji Cemetery in Okoboji, Iowa. Powers Funeral Home of Laurens, Iowa handled the arrangements.
Sheldon John Bieri was born on September 25, 1952, to Clarence “Casey” and Elsie (Miller) Bieri at Hershey Hospital in Muscatine, Iowa. He was raised on a farm where he lived an idyllic childhood with his parents. Sheldon attended a one-room country school until 5th grade. He graduated in 1970 from Muscatine High School and then attended Luther College. Sheldon was a proud member of the RAKEOP fraternity at Luther, where he made many life-long friends. While at Luther, Sheldon met the one and only, Linda Sue. In 1977, he graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.S. in Zoology, was hired by Smith Kline Beecham, and moved to Laurens. Sheldon married Linda Sue on June 3, 1978, at Bethany Lutheran Church. They were blessed with three children – Elise, Laura, and Case.
Sheldon was a pharmaceutical sales representative for ten years and then a senior district manager for twenty years. He enjoyed the opportunity to travel and made lasting friends with his colleagues. He was also a member of the company Political Action Committee and active in local politics.
Sheldon was blessed to retire early from GlaxoSmithKline and then to coach many of his son’s basketball and baseball games. He documented every play and reported them in the local newspaper with much zest. Sheldon was active in Bethany Lutheran Church, the district business for the Lutheran Church, and the Laurens Care Center board of directors.
Sheldon loved current events, conversation, friendships, being at Spirit Lake, and basically just having fun! His spry humor, quick wit, and “one liners” are deeply woven within his family and friends. His greatest joy in life was his family. His four grandchildren loved to tease their Grandpa Shel and spent many hours at the lake house annoying him. His motto was “the more the merrier,” and he thoroughly enjoyed sipping a martini with blue cheese stuffed olives while watching the chaos ensue.
Sheldon is survived by his wife Linda (Olson) of 43 years; daughter Elise (Jeff) Patzke and grandson Luke; daughter Laura (Brett) Latham and grandchildren Allison and Bennett; son Case (Kelsey) Bieri and granddaughter Lily; sister-in-law Susan Olson; nephew Anton Olson; and niece Linnea Dolan.
Sheldon was preceded in death by his parents Casey and Elsie; parents-in-law A. Miles and Bertha Olson; brother-in-law Jerry Olson; and loyal golden retriever, Oliver.
In lieu of flowers, the family will give memorials to Bethany Lutheran Church of Laurens, the North American Lutheran Church general fund, and the North American Lutheran Seminary.