Celebration of Life services for Sharon Hulen, 88, who passed away Thursday, November 14, 2024, at home, will be held 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 27 at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Indianola with burial of cremains following in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Indianola.

Sharon was born on March 14, 1936 on a farm near Dows, Iowa, to George and Alice (Hoversten) Mathias. Her family moved several times as she was growing up and she lived in Williams, Iowa Falls, Sheffield, Iowa. Sharon also lived in Marin City, California during WWII where her father worked in the Marinship shipyard. The family moved to Indianola, Iowa in 1951 where Sharon graduated high school in 1953.  In 1956 Sharon graduated from Iowa Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing, and she was a member of the Iowa Lutheran Nursing Alumni Association.

Sharon was employed for many years as a registered nurse at various hospitals, Indianola Good Samaritan Center, and Hospice of Central Iowa. She loved being a nurse and volunteered for Hospice Care Services (formerly Hospice of Central Iowa) in retirement.

Sharon married Bill Hulen in 1959 and they lived in San Antonio, Texas, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Tomah, Wisconsin, Waukon, Glenwood and Des Moines, Iowa prior to settling in Indianola in 1971. They were blessed with two sons, Bill Jr. and Michael. Sharon was a member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, the International Lilac Society, Iowa Arboretum and Brenton Arboretum.

Sharon enjoyed gardening, gardening classes and garden tours and was a master gardener through the Iowa State University Extension Service. She enjoyed landscape design and was a gardening consultant and a recipient of the Rita Tarr landscape award.

Survivors include her two sons, Bill, Jr (Heather) of Indianola and Michael (Susie) of Foristell, MO; five grandchildren, Darby (Monty) Farley, Jeff, Cole, Brett and Hannah; siblings, Ron (Carolyn) Mathias of Alamo, CA, Diane Potter of Des Moines, Debra Benson of Indianola, sister-in-law, Sharon Mathias of Atlantic, IA; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Bill Sr.; parents; brother, Roger; and a brother Robert who died in infancy.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, November 26 at Overton Funeral Home where family will be present to greet friends. Memorial contributions may be made to Iowa Arboretum, 1875 Peach Ave, Madrid, IA 50156, Brenton Arboretum, 25141 260th Street, Dallas Center, IA 50063 or Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 2214 East 2nd Ave, Indianola, IA 50125.