H. Wesley Sharbono

H. Wesley Sharbono, 71 year old retired Devils Lake rural farmer, died early Tuesday morning, July 7, 2009 at Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake. Funeral Services for Wes will be held on Friday, July 10, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, Devils Lake. Rev. David Birkeland will officiate and burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday (today) from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service and time of sharing at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Friday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Serving as Casket Bearers will be David Rowe, Jim Rowe, Don Nelson, Kenny Sharbono Jr., Fred Sharbono and Delano Kindem. Honorary Bearers will be Julian Kostecki, Bob Weed, Walter Hanson, Armen Hanson, Morgan Walford and all of Wes’ coffee buddies, Joe Nahinurk, Larry Nygren, Roger Spidahl, Caroll Spidahl, Gordon Braathen, Pete Lippert, Bruce Gerard, Ervin Fiel, Ron Stubbe, Morris Aanstad and Dr. N.L. Montaniel. Music will be provided by Dr. N.L. Montaniel, soloist and Dan Nybo, organist Howard Wesley Sharbono was born on July 20, 1937 at General Hospital, Devils Lake, the son of Howard and Alma (Jenson) Sharbono. He started 1st grade at Grand Harbor School and then attended Poplar Grove School until the 5th grade. Wes graduated from Devils Lake High School with the class of 1955. He attended Jamestown College on a scholastic scholarship from 1955-1959. He graduated with majors in Chemistry and Mathematics and minors in History and English. He had a remarkable athletic ability which was noted when he was the undefeated Captain of the Jamestown College Wrestling Team in the heavy weight division. He was Co-Captain of the Jamestown College Football and Track Teams also. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Jamestown College twice; first as a member of the 1957 Football Team which was unscored against the entire season and then in 1994. The year he graduated, Wes received the Kennedy Warner High Scholastic Science and Math Awards. Wes was united in marriage to his college sweetheart, Grace Rowe on December 27, 1961 at Mohall, ND by the Rev. Ralph Rowe, the bride’s father. Grace was attending Jamestown College, receiving her nursing degree then working as a Registered Nurse for 40 years. Wes taught Science, Math and coached football, track and wrestling at Jamestown High School from 1959 to 1976. He touched the lives of many students and athletes while he was there. In 1976, Wes and the family moved back to Devils Lake, when he bought the family farm five miles west of Devils Lake, where they farmed until he retired at age 62. Wes built up the family farm basically from scratch, restoring one house and building two other houses. He enjoyed retirement, collecting antique tractors, gardening, traveling to auction sales and taking part in threshing bees. Wes enjoyed his grandchildren, friends, family members, his daily coffee group, and the weekly Poplar Grove breakfast club. Wes was a member of the First United Methodist church especially enjoying Bible Studies with John Logan, past president of the Devils Lake Wrestling Boosters and the Model Airplane Club, served on the Ramsey County Extension Service Advisory Board and past member of the Elks Lodge #1216 in Devils Lake. Family and High School and College Class reunions were also a favorite of Wes’. He will always be loved and in our hearts for ever. Wes was a kind and generous man, and even to the end he continued that generosity as a tissue donor, giving a gift that will live on so others can live. He also established college funds for his grandchildren. Survivors include: his wife of 47 years, Grace, son Wade Sharbono and his wife Michelle of Devils Lake, son Dean Sharbono and his wife Joanne of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota and daughter Beth and her husband Travis Zahn of Devils Lake; Four Grandchildren: Colten and Cameron Sharbono, Brandon and Cody Zahn; Three Step grandchildren: Wade and Ryan Johnson and Kari Heitzman. Step great granddaughter, Haley. Brother: Fred Sharbono of rural Devils Lake. Sisters-In-Law and Brothers-In-Law; Evelyn and Don Nelson, Andover, MA Florence Jarchow, Richland, MO David and Sue Rowe, Camdenton, MO Jim and Mary Rowe, Richland, MO Many nieces, nephews and their families also survive. Wes was preceded in death by his parents; grandchild, Angel Sharbono; brother, Richard Sharbono; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ralph and Esther Rowe.