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Shari Marr

shari marr

May 4, 1977 ~ February 4, 2023

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I have decided that the best person to write about me is me! If you are reading this it is because leukemia won out in the end. I was dealt a crappy hand, but I tried my best to come out ahead. I passed away on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at my home surrounded by my family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 9, 2023, at Holy Family Parish, New Hampton with Rev. James Goerend celebrating the Mass. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, New Hampton. For those unable to attend the Funeral Mass in person please join the family via Livestream at the link below. https://foveo.stream/hugeback-johnson/shari-beth-marr Friends may greet the family 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home and Crematory in New Hampton. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass at the church on Thursday. I was born to Darwin and Kathy Peterson on May 4, 1977. That date became Star Wars Day later in life. Since I was born on that date and in the year of the first Star Wars, I liked to think I was strong with the force. My parents added my brothers Adam and Josh making me the wise older sister (so I like to think). I grew up on the farm and made a lot of memories. At the time I didn’t think some were so fun, especially moving pigs day. Now I look back and realize it wasn’t so bad and farm life played a big part in who I am today. I graduated from Oelwein High School in 1995 and went to Graceland College (now Graceland University) in Lamoni, Iowa. I received a teaching degree and later a Masters degree. My first teaching job out of college was at St. Joseph Community School in New Hampton. I looked young enough to be one of the 8th grade students, but they took a chance on me and it started my teaching career. During my first year there I was set up on a blind date with a local named Scotty Marr. I called him back after that first date and we went on to get married and had just celebrated 21 years of marriage in March. We were lucky enough to become the parents of Natalie and Landon. Being a mom brought me the most joy in life. I was their biggest fan. Going to their activities and being part of their lives is what I am saddest to leave behind. Natalie just started college. She will add so much to the world. One of the things I will miss most is watching her be the amazing leader and person she is. Landon is in high school. I was excited to see what direction he will go in the future. He was my golfing partner, and I loved watching him in band and baseball. As we added kids I also changed jobs to keep learning and growing in my profession. After St. Joe’s I also worked at Sacred Heart in Osage, was an Early Head Start Home Visitor, and provided several years of training for childcare providers around Northeast Iowa. I was currently teaching at Crestwood Elementary for the Howard-Winneshiek school district. I had a great work family at Howard-Winn. and am forever part of that team. During my years there I moved into early elementary special education. It makes me sad to think I won’t be teaching because I had more to give, but I am grateful for all the students and families I have worked with over all my years of teaching. The co-workers I had at each job were also people that brought me a lot of joy in life. Educators are a unique group of people and it was fun to be part of that crowd. When I did have free time I liked to read, play golf, listen to music, watch T.V., and to spend time outside when it was really hot and humid. I hated being cold so you probably saw me in a stocking hat most months of the year. Camping was one of my favorite summer activities to do from childhood to now and the best part was sitting around a campfire at night. My favorite place to eat was Taco John’s. When I grew up I wanted to be a meteorologist. I am a 4-H alum and loved being a 4-H mom. I was a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas through Good Shepherd Cluster. I was the Chickasaw County Hawk-eye for Our Iowa magazine. Spending time with friends and family is something I cherished. The farm was still a favorite place to visit. Family vacations and day trips were my favorite things to plan and do. While life didn’t last as long as I planned, I had a lifetime of good memories. A lot of that have to do with the great people that I met along the way. If you read this and met me, then we shared a memory and you were part of my life experiences. I am leaving behind a lot of people who love me. My husband, Scotty and children Natalie and Landon Marr of New Hampton; parents, Darwin "Pete" and Kathy Peterson of Oelwein; brother, Adam (Brooke) Peterson and their children Isobel and Julia of Marion; brother, Josh (Amanda) Peterson and their children Hope and Anthony of Center Point; mother-in-law, Rita Marr of New Hampton; sister-in-law, Stacey (Joe) Frahm and her children Payton, Marren, and Teagan Dougherty of Stewartville, MN. I also leave behind a large number of amazing relatives, neighbors, friends, colleagues, and the great communities of New Hampton, Cresco, and Oelwein. I was preceded in death by a brother in infancy and my father-in-law, Emil Marr. Cancer was a hard journey. It involved a lot of hospital stays, needles, and not feeling well. I can get some peace now with all of the relatives and friends that have gone before me in life. I don’t feel alone because I know I have a lot of special people waiting for me. Thanks for taking the time to read my obituary. You learned a little about me and for a moment I was special. Now go out in the world and find the positives and keep moving forward!

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  48. Hugs and prayers to the family!! My daughters had her for a teacher at St. Joes and loved her!!! They are so saddened to hear this.

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  69. Our sympathy to all of the family. So many great memories of our summers spent camping with the family. Shari fought hard and she loved hard. Her love for her family evident whenever she made a post to update us on her journey. She will be missed… love and hugs to the entire family. 💔

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  72. Sending our deepest sympathy to the entire family. Keep your wonderful memories close. Fly high dear Shari! 💔

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  79. Oh I am so sorry to hear this. Although I did not know her personally I followed her cancer journey and her bravery at facing her disease. May she rest in peace and the family be blessed with sweet memories.

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  116. Oh my goodness, Shari ❤️ the children and family you have created is beyond beautiful. You fought so hard, and have taught people so many amazing ways to live life and be thankful. May we wrap our arms around you and your family, hugs….❤️

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  139. Rest in peace Shari you will be so missed by so many.
    I had the pleasure of working with Shari a few years and she was a fantastic teacher .
    Prayers and thoughts to your family.

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  173. My deepest sympathy to Scott and all of Sheri’s family. May God’s love and peace be with you. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

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  177. So sorry for your loss!! Our thoughts & prayers are with your family during this difficult time & the road ahead. May God give you peace & strength🙏

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  185. Neighbor Lady
    I am so lucky to have known you the past 18 years and be around you and your wonderful family. We shared a passion for teaching and strong dislike of our stupid C. I always knew you liked hot weather, but didn’t quite follow you on that one! See you..and I will try to keep up with your last request!

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  188. Shari, You left an impact with your obituary as you did through life! Well done, as a strong and faithful servant on earth. My prayers to your whole family. Joyce

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  189. Such a beautiful soul. Prayers of peace and comfort to her family and the community. Such an incredible loss. 💕🙏🏻

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  195. Prayers to the Marr family. Shari was an upbeat person, and I feel lucky that I got to know her while I was subbing at Crestwood.

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  199. Thank you for sharing your beautiful story with us Shari. Rest in peace in your home in heaven. My deepest sympathy to Scott and all of your family.

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  202. Very sorry to hear of Shari’s passing and sincere condolences to the entire family. She was a great teacher to my two kids at Howard -Winn and had a wonderful personality!

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  204. Such an AMAZING person! She had the BEST laugh! Say hi to Lee for us! Now he can pick on you again! Wishing you all Gods peace🙏. Love to you all❤️

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  207. Shari was one of a kind-definitely a glass half full gal who will be missed by so many. May she rest in peace and may memories of her life give you comfort. Prayers for the family🙏

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  208. Shari was a friend of my daughter, Emily, and a student at Sacred Heart elementary school in Oelwein where I worked. I loved her quirky, fun sense of humor, her down to earth attitude about everything in life and her lovely smile. She was such a special little girl. My thoughts are with you all during this very sad time.

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  209. Shari was an amazing fighter! Just wish there had been a miracle in her pocket to help her. Our sympathy and prayers to all the Marrs. Rest in peace Shari!

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  219. Shari was such a strong force of positivity and fun, she will be dearly missed.
    Thoughts, prayers, and hugs 🧡

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  222. Our condolences to the Marr family. Such a very lovely story of her life! Sounds like an amazing gal.
    Deb & Roger Lantzky

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  227. What a beautiful obituary! She sounded like a very special person….condolences and prayers to Scott and his children along with both families.
    Jan and Lance Manson

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  229. Beautifully written. Darwin and Kathy I’m so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and all the family.

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  231. You did have so much more to share in life Shari! You were such an amazing person in college and someone I was glad to be friends with. Your bubbly personality and laugh were so contagious. I hadn’t seen you since college and was saddened when I learned of your diagnosis….already months into your flight to concur it. While the cancer may have won over the physical part of the battle…. reading your journal along the way and seeing how great a support of loved one you had as well as the positive attitude and humor with which you confronted each day of your fight…. you have won the war on cancer. You kept the positivity to the end and now finds your peace in the Lord. The memories you leave behind in the people you touched will have a ripple effect into eternity.

    My prayers will continue with your family and the transition they now have to make…..as I thank the Lord for letting our paths cross for a few short years when we were younger. Enjoy your much deserved rest, dear friend.

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  235. Mrs. Marr:

    Thank you for your years of service in education. You have inspire many and taught us all how to live every day to the fullest and be there for your family. I enjoyed getting to talk to you and conferences. I also am blessed to have taught your kids.

    We will all miss you and keep you in our thoughts. Until we all meet again, thanks for being brave, tough, sincere, and gracious. We are all better people for having known you.

    Your Friend,

    Rick Meisner

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  239. Deepest sympathy & prayers to Scott and his lovely children Natalie and Landen. Heaven has gained an Angel.

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  242. So sorry to hear about Shari’s passing . Hugs and prayers to all her family and friends. My memories are of Shari and her brothers in school in Oelwein where I was teaching. What an amazing young woman.

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  247. I have wonderful memories of Shari from Oelwein High School, especially in Academic Decathlon. She was a bright, talented girl with a beautiful smile. I’m sad to hear she left this world too soon.

    Linda Peik

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  248. Once upon a time Shari and I taught together at St. Joseph School in New Hampton. She brought a lot of life to the children and staff. She had a very uplifting spirit that meant a lot. Rest in peace, Shari.
    Sister Janet Heiar

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  250. Thoughts and prayers to the Marr family. Although I didn’t know her, she sounds like an amazing person and so sad for her husband and kids. My deepest sympathies to her family and friends

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  254. I never saw Shari without a smile on herface. I appreciated her patronage at the library andenjoyed our chats when she brought her dear kids to programs. She was a grest mom and caring person. Keep sharing her story.

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  257. My favorite memory is when she was in high school for Halloween she wanted to be a gypsy. Knowing that I was a colorful dresser, she asked me. We had fun. A long colorful skirt, a scarf to tie around her waist and a scarf around her head. She was beaming that wonderful smile. What a star shine.

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  259. Oh Scott and Rita and family, I’m so very sorry for your loss, for, as you know, we know what it’s like to lose a loved one too young! Life is so unfair. I hope though that you have many sweet memories to help you through the tough times. And you’ll feel Gods presence to comfort.
    Audrey Westendorf, Matt & Melissa and family.

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  261. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with all of you during this most difficult time. Our daughter Irelynn is a classmate of Landon’s. Take comfort knowing that that Sheri is at peace with no more pain. Speak her name often and share your memories … keep her spirit alive.
    ALWAYS BLESSINGS 💝 NEVER LOSSES

    Sincerely,
    Jim, Margo and Irelynn Bodensteiner

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  263. I just found out about the passing of Shari. I remember being really good friends with her. Lots of me being on the farm with her, and her spending time at the house I grew up in too. Kathy, Darwin, Josh, Adam …. Scott…. everyone …. I am SO sorry to hear of this. Definitely gone too soon. Cancer definitely SUCKS!! I cannot put into any kind of words how deeply sorry I am. I cannot even imagine the loss. May you feel the arms of God wrapped around you. Love and prayers. Michelle (Weishaar) Ullrick

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