Sharon Alice Van Dusseldorp

Sharon Alice Van Dusseldorp

Iowa City

Sharon Alice Van Dusseldorp passed away peacefully Friday, October 25, 2024 at the University of Iowa Health Care Downtown Campus following a stroke.

Sharon was born to Carl and Vera (Simpson) Heggen, May 9, 1930, in Des Moines, Iowa. She came into the world with her first friend and twin sister, Shirley. Her close family included older siblings Norma and Louis.

She attended school in Des Moines graduating from East High School, Class of 1948. She made many lifelong friends there. Attending class reunions was important to her. Sharon married Ralph Van Dusseldorp in 1951 and moved to Pella for a short time. The couple then lived on various military bases, adding sons David and Dean to the family before settling in Davenport where daughter Susan was born.

The family relocated to Iowa City in 1963, moving into her home in the historic Longfellow neighborhood in 1964 where she lived for 59 years. After raising her children and divorcing in 1973, Sharon worked at Quail Creek Golf Course and Gifts by JaLor before working at and retiring from the UIHC Radiology Department in 1992. Sharon always considered her coworkers friends and family. She laughed easily and often drew people to her. In her years in Iowa City, she was a member of the T.T.T. Society, was a Girl Scout leader, and a lunch lady at Longfellow Elementary School. At church she taught Sunday School, served as deacon, and was a member of women’s circles.

In 1976 Sharon met her life companion Bill Peak. In retirement they traveled all over the country, eventually joining other snowbirds for several winters in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. They recently moved to Atrium Village in Hills where she met many new friends.

Sharon is survived by her children David VanDusseldorp (Debbie Beermann) of Iowa City and Susan Hamada (Craig) of Morgan, UT, four grandchildren, Katharine Schulein (Bob) of Sherborn, MA, Sarah VanDusseldorp (Dave Tierney) of Minneapolis, MN, Faye Patterson (Jim) of North Las Vegas, NV, Trenton Hamada (Joey) of Cottonwood Height,s UT, seven great-grandchildren and many dear nieces and nephews. Also survived by Bill Peak, his children Laurie Birrer (Marty), Karen Lenth (Larry), Bonnie Dodds (Chris), Bill (Shelle), Greg, Tom (Diane), Steve (Diann) and Bill’s twelve grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents Carl and Vera Heggen, son Dean VanDusseldorp and daughter-in-law Karen, siblings Norma Jones, Louis Heggen, Shirley Edwards, half-sister Margorie, half-brother Robert as well as many dear friends.

Memorial services will be held at 11 am, Saturday, November 9, 2024 at First Presbyterian Church with a time of visitation starting at 9:30 am until the service time. The family requests any memorial contributions be made to First Presbyterian Church or a charity of one’s choice in lieu of flowers. To share a thought, memory or condolence, please visit Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service website at www.gayandciha.com.