Sharon Koldewey

Born in Twin Falls, Idaho on July 18, 1940 to Leslie & Ruth (Reinke) Ude [deceased], Sharon was the oldest of four siblings: Donald Ude [deceased], Rev. Steven (& Lanette) Ude of Ogden, IA, Christine (& Bruce) Miller of Bellevue, NE, and Irene (& Roy) Leidich of Clinton Township, MI.

Sharon was a lifetime member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Twin Falls, Idaho. She graduated from Twin Falls High School in 1958 and attended Twin Falls Business College in 1959. She worked for the Boy Scouts of America (Snake River Area Council) from 1959 to 1972 and was awarded the distinguished BSA Silver Fawn Award for her years of service.

She met her husband of 52 years, Larry Koldewey, through a blind date set up by church friends, marrying on August 13, 1972 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Twin Falls. Sharon and Larry then moved to Boise, ID. While living in Boise, Sharon worked as a bookkeeper for Fuller-O’Brien Paint Company - in the many stores they had in the cities in the Boise Metro area. After several years, they moved back to Twin Falls to be closer to family and care for both of their parents. On June 28, 1978 they adopted their only child, Benjamin Koldewey (wife Brandy). Sharon declared this day to be “So Glad We Gotcha Day”. She remembered and never missed a year of wishing Ben “Happy So Glad We Gotcha Day!”.

Living the remainder of her life in Twin Falls, Sharon was a housewife; volunteered for & helped implement Immanuel Lutheran School’s hot lunch program; she designed bulletin boards at the school. Sharon loved flowers and growing them, she enjoyed making floral arrangements and donating them to local businesses or giving them to others to brighten their day. Sharon was an active member of the “Immanuel Quilters” & LWML. She served the church as the Board of Outreach Chairperson & congregation secretary. As a lifelong Republican, she was elected as the Twin Falls County Republican Central Committeeman for District 16.

Her son Ben married Brandy (Garrison) Koldewey in 1997. She has a granddaughter, Aurora (Koldewey) Ross (with husband Hunter) and a grandson, Kaden Koldewey, both of Twin Falls. She also has two great-grandsons, Hudson & Lorenzo Ross.

Sharon survived and beat cancer but she was later diagnosed with congestive heart failure. When given no more than 3 months to live, she surprised doctors by surviving another 2 years. After several hospital stays in the past year, to treat complications due to this, she was released into hospice care at home where she died surrounded by family on the morning of Friday, November 15. Her final wishes were for happiness, as she was ready & eager to go home with the Lord, whom she firmly & proudly believed in. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Immanuel Lutheran Church.

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