Sharri L. Hackbarth

Sharri (Hanson) Hackbarth passed away at 68 years of age on Sunday, May 25, 2025, after living with ovarian cancer for 9½ years. She was born in Durand, Wisconsin, on August 29, 1956, to Norman and Beverly Hanson and lived on the family farm outside Downsville, Wisconsin, before moving to Spring Valley, Minnesota, and Winona, Minnesota. Sharri graduated from Winona Senior High School in 1974. Eager to gain her independence, she decided to forego college for some time and attended Winona Area Vocational Technical Institute, graduating from the Medical Secretary program in 1975.

During this time, Sharri met and fell in love with David Hackbarth, son of Roger and Alice Hackbarth, of Ridgeway, Minnesota. They were married on January 24, 1976, at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ridgeway and initially made their home in Rochester, Minnesota. They would later live in Plainview, Minnesota; Elgin, Minnesota; and Fountain Hills, Arizona; and eventually retire back to Winona, MN. Their daughter, Andrea, was born on August 17, 1981. Sharri and Dave were very proud of all her achievements: academically; as a business owner, journal editor, and teacher; as a poet; and, most importantly, as an awesome mother to their grandson, Ulysses (Uly).

Sharri's career began in 1975 as a medical secretary at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She held the following additional positions successively during her nearly 40 year career at Mayo: Supervisor, Medical Secretaries; Assistant Supervisor and Supervisor, Mayo Clinic Appointment Office; Education Specialist, Human Resources; Human Resources Leader, Section of HR Programs; Research Operations Administrator, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; and Research Operations Administrator, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona. Sharri joined the Voting Staff of Mayo Clinic in 2003. In addition to supporting the research activities of many departments and divisions and the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Sharri was active in continuous quality improvement, customer service improvement, and health disparities.

During her time working in the Mayo Clinic Appointment Office, Sharri pursued her goal to attend college and graduated summa cum laude in 1991 from Winona State University, Winona, Minnesota, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. She also obtained a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1996.

Sharri retired from Mayo Clinic in December 2014, after 39.5 years of service and accepted a position at the University of Arizona as Associate Director of Administration in the Cancer Center. She would work there only a brief time before being diagnosed with advanced stage cancer, necessitating her retirement.

Sharri enjoyed volunteering in her church and community, walking and hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, motorcycling, reading, and traveling. She was an advocate for social justice, humane treatment of animals, and environmental issues. The greatest joy in her retirement was becoming a grandma to Ulysses (Uly) Hackbarth-Toche and spending time with him and Andrea in Alaska. She also had a special place in her heart for step-grandsons, Gavin and Kiernan Toche. She was a loving mom to and her life was greatly enriched by many pets over the years, including cats Valerie and Reggie, and dogs Josh, Lucy, Maddie, and Oliver.

Sharri is survived by her loving and supportive husband of 49 years, David Hackbarth of Winona, Minnesota; daughter, Andrea Hackbarth; grandson, Ulysses (Uly) Hackbarth-Toche; step-grandsons, Gavin (Janessa) and Kiernan Toche; and step-great-granddaughter, Lynnera Toche, all of Palmer, Alaska; mother, Beverly Hanson of Rochester, Minnesota; siblings: Peggy Roberson of West Des Moines, Iowa; Jeffrey (Marilyn) Hanson of Rochester, Minnesota; Judy Hanson (Joe Delaney) of Red Wing, Minnesota; Scott (JoDee) Hanson of Rochester, Minnesota; and Barbara (Lance) Rygmyr of Winona, Minnesota; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Bonnie (Ron) Falch of Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin; Larry Hackbarth of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin; Kristine (Greg) Olson of High Forest, Minnesota; Mariann (Jeff) Metz of Rushford, Minnesota; and Joel (Natalie) Hackbarth of La Crescent, Minnesota; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended family and friends.

Sharri was a member of Central Lutheran Church, Huff and 7th Streets, in Winona, Minnesota, where a service honoring and remembering her life will be held at 11 AM on Friday, May 30, 2025. Pastor Michael Short will officiate. Sharri will be laid to rest at Bush Cemetery, Ridgeway. There will not be any visitation held prior to the service. Following the service, the family will greet relatives and friends during a luncheon and reception in Grace Hall of Central Lutheran Church.

Memorials are preferred to The Feast at Central Lutheran Church, Paws and Claws Humane Society in Rochester, Minnesota, or Cancer Research at Mayo Clinic.

Online condolences or memories may be left for Sharri’s family at www.watkowski-mulyck.com.