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Obituary: Sharon Paulus

Sharon Paulus of Steamboat Springs, Colorado passed away peacefully early Thursday morning, October 26th after a valiant fight with a particularly aggressive form of brain cancer. She was 52 years young.

Sharon was born on December 12th, 1964 in Baltimore, MD to parents William and Rita (Isner) Roselle of Baltimore, MD.

She initially met her husband John on a vacation trip to St. Croix, US Virgin Islands in 1986 where he was working for a large oil refinery.  She returned a year later on another vacation and the two fell in love and started dating long distance.  One of those dates was to Steamboat Springs, Colorado where Sharon learned to ski. Sharon moved to St. Croix in 1988 and she became Sharon Paulus on May 26, 1990.

Sharon completed her college degree at the University of the Virgin Islands soon thereafter.  Their first child, Christian (20) was born in Christiansted, St. Croix.  Their second son, Ethan (16) was born off island in Baltimore, Maryland. Sharon raised the boys and was very active in the community including her work with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) St. Croix as a volunteer.  She developed a passion for tennis during her time on the island and carried her love for the sport for the rest of her life. Sharon became a very positive part of the St. Croix community over the 23 years she lived there. During those years the family also spent many winter and summer vacations in Steamboat Springs and solidified their love of the mountains.

In August, 2011 the Paulus family made Steamboat Springs their full-time home. Sharon became very active with the Steamboat Tennis Association, as a fund-raising co-chair for several years. It brought her great joy promoting youth tennis especially volunteering her time to help children with autism learn to play her favorite sport. She was employed by Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation in retail sales the last few years.

Sharon loved knitting and created a lot of baby blankets for friends.  She also enjoyed skiing with family, local friends, and the many remote friends who came to visit.  She could often be found sitting in her favorite chair, sipping a glass of red wine, laughing with friends, or dispensing thoughtful and caring advice to the many who sought her wise guidance in dealing with all types of personal challenges.

Christian and Ethan, her two wonderful sons, who made her so proud, survive her as does their dedicated father, Sharon’s loving husband and best friend, John Paulus, all of Steamboat Springs.

Also surviving is her older twin sister (4 minutes) of sister Sandra Miller (husband Steve) and family of the Panama City, Florida younger sister Patti Ragone (husband Pete) and family of Leesburg, VA, as well as father William Roselle, of Baltimore, MD. Her older sister Debbie in 1986 and her mother, Rita in 1987, preceded her in death.

There will be a memorial service at Concordia Lutheran church in Steamboat Springs on November 11th at 11 AM.  A reception will follow immediately after the service. There will not be an Interment as Sharon’s wishes were to be cremated.

There will be a celebration of life in early summer 2018 in Steamboat Springs as well in St. Croix, USVI. Details will be sent out later.

In lieu of flowers, please honor Sharon with a donation to the Steamboat Tennis Association (STA) for the Sharon Paulus Adaptive Tennis Program. Donations can be mailed to the STA at PO Box 770533, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 or for on-line donations, go to SteamboatTennisAssociation.org and click Donate. There will be a place to designate the donation. Donors should type in Sharon Paulus Adaptive Tennis Program.

The Paulus family would like to thank all the many wonderful medical professionals, her employer and the many friends in the Steamboat community and beyond who were so supportive during the past year.


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