The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Susan Galbraith, Quill Reporter
Meet Your Neighbor Sharon Hicks of Stronghurst. Sharon is employed at Great River Medical Center in West Burlington, Iowa, in the Patient Services Association Department (P.S.A.). She has various responsibilities including clerk, C.N.A. sterilizes scopes, and does breath testing for those with stomach ailments.
She was born in Peoria and raised in Yates City.
Before starting at G.R.M.C. she worked for 30 years at Maytag in Galesburg.
In 2004 she started in housekeeping at G.R.M.C. and also did billing and coding. In the fall of 2005 she returned to the classroom at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington, Iowa, where she took a C.N.A. class. When asked what she enjoyed about her present employment she stated, "I love working, with people at the hospital. There is something new almost every day."
In July she and hubby, Michael, will be married 33 years. He is retired from Maytag and Sharon said, "He keeps busy buying and selling treasures!"
They have a daughter, Sarah (28), who is married to Eric Farwell. They will celebrate their 1st anniversary in July. On May 15, Sarah will graduate with a M.S. in counseling from Lincoln Seminary in Lincoln. At present she is employed in Admissions at the seminary.
She has three brothers, Tom (Betty) who lives in Fairborn, Ohio, Steve (Lisa) Yates City, and Tim (Barb) lives in Trivoli. A sister, Toni (Brian) Jurgenson, lives in Maquon. Her sister, Toni, and brother, Tim, are twins.
Her parents, Tom and JoAnn Staggs are retired and live in (Douglas) Yates City.
In 2008 Sharon and Pastor Gene Turner went on a Missions trip to Liberia, Africa, with the Illinois Great River Conference. While there they helped construct a school, and visited other schools and stations. Ganta and Camphor are mission stations that they visited.
This October 8th, Sharon is returning to Africa and hopes to see the school building finished and dedicated. While there she will also be working on other projects at the school.
One of her hobbies is making stained glass. She and Charles Bowlyou, of Carman, are making stained glass crosses, as a fundraiser, to help provide money for the mission trip. The money that is raised will be split between the African trip or a mission abroad and the other half will be put to use locally in the county.
Presently the children at the Stronghurst United Methodist Church, where Sharon is a member, is raising money to give to African children for scholarships to attend school. She has also served on various committees at church.
Sharon is dedicated to being a servant for the Lord.