Sharon Lee Kwapis

Sharon Lee Kwapis, 83 of Johannesburg, passed away Saturday, February 18, 2023, at The Brook in Gaylord.

Born Sharon Lee Payne in Toledo OH on July 24, 1939, she was the daughter of Robert and Helen (Cadaret) Payne.

She went by her nickname, Sheree all her life.  Her best and lifelong friend was Barb Linzie.  They met at 6 years of age.  Sheree married Harry David Kwapis January 31, 1959; she was a wife, mother, and homemaker. 

She was a realtor in the state of Michigan as well as the state of Connecticut.  One of her proudest achievements was making the million-dollar club in 1983 with the Beazley Company, Realtors in Connecticut.  She loved working at Beazley selling real estate. Sheree was also the MSU 4-H Coordinator for Ontonagon County.  She enjoyed implementing the programs that MSU offered the community. 

Sheree’s hobbies were many; crafting, sewing, knitting, reading, and playing the ukulele.  Sheree enjoyed traveling, spending time at Paul’s Pub drinking a nice cold beer or two and visiting friends, her children, her 22 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

Sheree spent her last year at the Brook retirement home in Gaylord, where she adored the girls that work there, and they adored her. 

Sheree leaves behind seven children, Rusty (Libby of Ada, MI), Steve (Kimi) of Johannesburg, MI, Lori Ladensack (Chip) of Johannesburg, MI, Randy (Janice) of Johannesburg, MI, Kelly Ison (Robert) in Canton, GA, Lyndi Guyott (George) of Grand Rapids, MI, and Missy (Elston) Van Winkle of Beebe, AR; and her many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert & Helen; her brother, Don; her husband, Harry; her infant daughter, Jill; and her son, Christopher.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service, where visitation will begin at 10:00 AM.  Interment will take place in the spring at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Johannesburg.  Those who wish are asked to consider memorial contributions in her memory to Compassus Hospice, Atlanta, MI.

Please share your memories and personal messages with the family on Sheree’s guestbook, below.