Sharlene J. Brand

Sharlene Brand, 88, of Galesburg, Illinois, passed away peacefully on December 8, 2025, at The Manor at Lake Jackson, Sebring, FL. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney. Interment will be held at Riverside Cemetery in Gibbon. Visitation will be 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the family for future destinations. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services. Born on March 28, 1937, in Greeley County, Nebraska, Sharlene lived a long, spirited life marked by love, laughter, and resilience. A fun-loving soul with a streak of stubborn determination, Sharlene filled her days with family, friends, and an abundance of “coffee talk” with her besties. She believed that joy was best found in simple moments—sharing stories around a kitchen table, playing an evening game of cards, or listening to the soft music of a piano she so loved to play. Sharlene’s creativity knew no bounds. She was an accomplished painter and pianist, finding peace and expression in her art. Her talents reached beyond the canvas and the keyboard, extending to her career as a top salesperson for Avon products, where she was recognized year after year for her success, charm, and dedication. She also found deep fulfillment in giving back to her community, particularly through her involvement with the Baptist Church and as the founder of a local chapter of Parents Without Partners in Galesburg, Illinois—an organization she helped establish to bring support and companionship to others navigating life’s challenges. Her warmth and determination were defining traits, shaping not only her own path but the lives of those fortunate enough to know her. To her children and friends, she was a steadfast source of encouragement and humor, someone who met life’s trials with a twinkle in her eye and an unshakable spirit. Sharlene is survived by her children, Vaughn Donaldson and wife Shannon, grandson Montgromery Stoneking and her beloved niece and nephew, Chris and Ron who will forever carry her memory in their hearts. She was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Vickie Stoneking and her parents Enid and Charles Herter, and brother Dale. Though her journey on earth has ended, Sharlene’s light endures through every memory shared, every note played, and every brushstroke left behind. Her family and friends take comfort in knowing that her laughter and kindness will echo in the lives she touched. "To love a person is to learn the song in their heart, and sing it to them when they have forgotten. "

Sharlene J. Brand

March 28, 1937 - December 8, 2025