Sharon Bumgardner

Henry:
Sharon Louise Stange-Bumgardner, 72, of Henry, passed away peacefully on Wednesday August 27, 2025, at the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home, Peoria after a 10 year battle with cancer.
Cremation rites have been accorded. Visitation will be held Saturday September 6, 2025 from 8:00 to 10:00 am at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, St. Mary’s, 401 South St. Henry. A memorial mass will follow at 10:00 am. Fr. Michael Pica will officiate. Inurnment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Henry. A luncheon will follow at St. Mary’s Center following the burial. Memorials may be directed to St. Mary’s Church, OSF-Illinois Cancer Care, OSF-Giving Tree Project, OSF-Senior Saints, OSF-St. Francis Medical Center, MSW Projects, transportation services, or the Henry food pantry. Calvert & Johnson Memorial Home, Herny is in charge of arrangements.
Sharon was born April 6, 1953, in Spring Valley, Illinois to Raymond Sr. and Cecelia (Engelbrecht) Stange. She married Roger Allen Bumgardner on September 1, 1973. After 40 years of marriage, they divorced in 2013. They had two children, Mandy (Andrew) Bear, of Lee’s Summit, MO and Kyle Andrew, of Granville, IL.
In addition, she leaves behind her grandson Brady Bear and her siblings, Rita Simpkins, of Henry, Margi (Margaret) Koors, of St. Louis, MO and Raymond Jr. (Debbie) Stange, of Henry, and numerous loving nieces and nephews.
Sharon leaves behind Roger and his family, who were a special part of her life, as well her children’s:, Roger’s siblings, Carolyn Stillwell, of Magnolia, Nancy Kennedy, Janet Bill, and Shirley Jo Bumgardner, all of Henry, and Diane (Jim) Ziel, of Ladd and many loving nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, who died the same week in 1991. Also preceding her in death are her sisters, Patricia (Frank) Poskocil, Jean (Earl) Davis, Janice (Tom) Simpkins, and brother-in-law Lewis “Topper” Simpkins. Her fathers-in-law; Leroy Bumgardner Sr. and Elwood Jason, mother-in-law, Mabel (Devoss) Jason; Roger’s siblings, Betty Jean Perona, Sharon Dysart, Larry Bumgardner, LeRoy Bumgardner Jr., and his brother-in-law’s; Cliff Bill and Harold Kennedy.
Sharon was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Henry.
She graduated from Henry Senachwine High School in May 1971 and started her career at St. Francis Medical Center in July 1971 and spent more than 40 years there advancing in positions. Sharon hired on as the 1st multi-area ward clerk at the hospital and her instructor, Miss Julia Smiser said on the last day of class, “Some day you will be working in Administration”.
Sharon advanced from unit clerk, to senior clerk, to Unit Coordinator. Sharon was then asked to take a secretarial position for the Directors of Nursing and went on to work for the Vice President of Q & A, Assisitant Administrator of Patient Care, and finally the COO (Chief Operating Officer), 2nd in command at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Administration.
Sharon loved her job, working with the Sisters Canisia, Donata, and Ildefonsa, and spending time working on committees in addition to her duties.
Sharon won the OSF Saint Francis “Outstanding Office Professional” for her work at the hospital.
At OSF, Sharon coordinated the annual Easter Egg Hunt for the 5,000 plus employees and their children. Sharon also founded and coordinated the annual Giving Tree, part of the Mission Initiative, (giving needy families gifts for the holidays), raising in excess of $100,000 a year with over 2,000 employees participating. Sharon coordinated this program for over 10 years. When Volunteer Services took the program over so they could coordinate efforts with Salvation Army, Easter Seals, etc. The Giving Tree was nominated for and won the Governor’s Home-Town Award for the City of Peoria in a special ceremony in Springfield, IL
Sharon was nominated for the Tom Connor Award, received a Proclamation for the mayor of Peoria, and later won the Bill Houlihan “Advocacy Award” for her volunteerism.
The last few years at OSF Saint Francis, Sharon started a program for the employees called “Adopt A Garden”. Departments adopted a section of the campus grounds and were responsible for that area throughout the year. Many of the staff loved gardening and brought plants and grasses from home to beautify the grounds. The hillsides and campus area were adorned with such beauty from the vast colors of summer. The American Cancer Society and Radiation Therapy partnered to plant a ribbon of tulips outside the therapy entrance. These are just a couple of the gorgeous areas that saved the hospital hundreds of dollars but also promoted pride among the employees.
In her hometown of Henry, Sharon was involved in her church as a CCD Instructor, Henry Senachwine Grade School & High School as PTA President. As PTA President for 7 years, Sharon initiated Downtown Trick or Treating, Apparel sales, School Carnival and was involved in the:” Haunted House” the State of Illinois “Reflections” programs-featuring, photography, art, Bus Safety Week, Teacher Appreciation Week, to name a few. For the City of Henry, Sharon coordinated the annual Easter Egg Hunt for many years and posed as Mr. E. Bunny many times. She made life fun for the kids, by having a townwide scavenger hunt to find the “Golden Egg” by solving nursery rhymes.
She was involved in Girl Scout and Boy Scouts with her children and held the following positions: Committee Chairman, Treasurer, Cookie Chairman, and Popcorn Chairperson.
Sharon was the first to admit “camping in tents was not her thing” but that did not stop her form being there from sunrise to sunset hiking, fishing, working on merit badges and making” pie iron pies”. She just stayed at a “nearby hotel”!
Sharon coordinated with MJ over 30 fundraisers a year for the scouts who would not have been able to enjoy a trip because of funding. Scouts enjoyed trips with the Troup to Florida Sea Base, Canada Boundary Waters, The National Jamboree, as well as Niagara Falls, and Washington DC twice (During 911 and during the funeral of President Ronald Reagon), and more.
Sharon spearheaded the Residential Decorating Contest during the Christmas holidays to showcase the homes in her beautiful city of Henry. Sharon sat on the Statewide PTA Board, was a member of the (IAAP) International Association of Administrative Professionals and earned her CAP (Certified Administrative Professional) and CPS (Certified Professional Secretary) certification as well as notary through the State of Illinois. The list is endless with Sharon’s accomplishments over the years in Henry and Peoria.
There is one thing for certain, her love, energy, and enthusiasm for helping others was contagious.
Online condolences may be made to: www.calvertmemorial.com.