Sharon Rachel Kornelsen

Sharon Barkman Kornelsen 1955-2013

Our loving mother, Sharon Kornelsen, passed away on the morning of the first day of spring, March 20, 2013 at the age of 57. After a three year battle with cancer, she died peacefully with her family by her side at the Rockyview General Hospital in Calgary, Alberta. She will be lovingly remembered and missed by her family, her husband Garry Kornelsen, and her children: Donovan (and his wife Sarah), Dorita, and Derek (and his wife Karla), along with her brothers and sisters and many nieces and nephews. Sharon has followed into heaven her parents and her brothers Daniel and Leroy.

Mom was born on May 23, 1955, to Peter and Helen Barkman of Blumenort, Manitoba; she was the fifth child of eight. Mom’s childhood was full of amazing memories spent with her siblings with whom she was very close, growing up just outside Blumenort on the family farm where she lived right up until she got married. She accepted Christ at a young age and was baptized into the Blumenort EMC Church. Even as a young girl, Mom was a very hard worker helping out on the farm in any way needed. Music and singing were also a big part of Mom’s early life, and some of her fondest memories include playing piano and singing with her sisters.

Mom met Dad as a teenager, and they were married on October 18, 1974 when she was just nineteen. Mom and Dad’s life together was one based on God’s leading in ministry and Christian teaching. After two years living in Steinbach, Manitoba, they moved to Caronport, Saskatchewan where they were both students at Briercrest Bible College. From there, Mom and Dad spent two years as missionaries in the Bahamas teaching and working with youth.

Back in Canada, they spent two years in Regina for Dad to complete his Masters Degree before moving back to Steinbach in 1983. For ten years they lived in Steinbach, where Mom was able to catch up and stay close with her family and friends, and to raise us children. She kept active in the church as well, as church secretary for a time, and as leader of the College-and-Career group together with Dad.

In 1993 Mom and Dad did another two-year missions trip, this time to Trinidad, where Mom continued to use her gifts together with Dad in helping plant a local church. Church-planting continued to be on Mom and Dad’s heart after returning to Canada in 1995, when they moved to Calgary and began work to plant a church which became Fish Creek Christian Fellowship.

Mom worked various jobs which reflected her interests and character, including retail jobs in women’s fashion, a local caf, and more recently in a few community daycares where she continued to exemplify her nurturing character in cooking for many young children. In each of the many jobs Mom had, however, the common thread was always the close relationships she developed with her co-workers, making many friends along the way, and never shying away from sharing her faith in God with others, especially near the end of her life.

Mom was a kind, loving and friendly person. In many ways she took after her own father in the way she could talk to anyone, whether strangers at a coffee shop or wherever. Mom you are so special to us, and we look forward to that day when we see Jesus and you again. Be fully alive in Christ now, glorifying Him. We love you so much.

-Her Family