Sharon Kunnert, 76, of Oak Brook, Illinois, passed away peacefully at her home on March 9, 2026. A private Christian burial and a celebration of life with family will be held at a later date.

Sharon Melita “Deetsy” Kunnert was born on February 19, 1950, in Dubuque, Iowa, to Arnold “Jake” and Melita “Letty” (May) Kunnert. She was the second of ten children and grew up surrounded by the love and energy of a large, close-knit family.

Sharon graduated from Wahlert High School in 1968, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Iowa in Food and Nutrition Dietetics and became a registered dietitian. While at Iowa she played on the Women’s Tennis Team. She began her professional career at University Hospitals in Madison, Wisconsin, where she practiced dietetics with care and dedication. It was there that she provided tennis lessons to a pilot in exchange for flying lessons.

Athletic and spirited, Sharon later followed her passion for tennis and became a tennis professional, teaching for many years at The Woodlands in Huston, Texas. She also cultivated a strong interest in interior design, working for several high-end furniture retailers, most notably Marshall Field’s in Chicago, where she combined her eye for beauty with her warm personality.

Sharon had a deep appreciation for the arts, sports, travel, gardening, and flowers. She was an intellectual and an avid, passionate reader, with a particular love for history. One of the most cherished experiences of her life was traveling to Europe with her beloved mother, Letty, where they explored their family heritage. Along the way, they were guided by her mother’s dear brother, Elmer May, (US Army stationed in Germany), creating memories that Sharon treasured always.

In her later years, Sharon continued to give back to her community by driving disabled children in the Oak Brook and greater Chicago area, a role she carried out with kindness and compassion up until the time of her passing.

Above all, Sharon found her greatest joy in returning home to Dubuque, where she celebrated holidays, especially the Fourth of July and Christmas, surrounded by her large and loving family. Though she never had children of her own, she held a special place in her heart for each of her 22 nieces and nephews, who brought her immense pride and happiness.

Sharon “Deetsy” will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her nine siblings and their spouses: five brothers, Patrick (Diane Brimeyer) Kunnert of Dubuque, Kevin (Mary Warner) Kunnert of Portland, Oregon, William Kunnert of Dubuque, John (Kim Erusha) Kunnert of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and Thomas (Kelly Kehoe) Kunnert of Dubuque; and four sisters, Barbara (Rod) Stoffel of Dubuque, Beth (Bill) Ries of Dubuque, Susan (Bill) Techau of Yorkville, Illinois, and Kathleen (Ivan) Gruhl of Dubuque, along with her beloved 22 nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arnold “Jake” and Melita “Letty” (May) Kunnert, and her uncle Robert “Pete” Kunnert.

Sharon’s life was marked by curiosity, independence, warmth, kindness, and a deep love of family—qualities that will be remembered always.