Augsburger, Sharon Daniel (1933-2004)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2004 Oct 18 p. 16

Birth date: 1933 Jun 1

text of obituary:

DANIEL AUGSBURGER

Sharon Daniel Augsberger, 71, of Sarasota, Fla., died July 26, 2004, of cancer. He was born June 1, 1933, to Clarence and Estella Augsburger in Delphos, Ohio.

He married Garnieta Brenneman on June 27, 1954.

He was a member of the Mennonite Church since his youth. He was baptized at Elida, Ohio, and carried his faith and integrity into his work and business associations.

His first career was in agriculture as manager of cultivation of extended farmlands for a clay mining company in eastern Ohio. He entered a second career, and his favorite vocation, of directing sales staff and traveling for 22 years as vice president of sales for Empire Plow.

A people person, he built a wide network of friends across the United States. A playful person, he could cite an exceptional steakhouse or locate chocolate in almost any city. A principled person, he could talk about his faith as a disciple of Christ with unabashed freedom and witness. He was known as a man of deep conviction and sincere love of others.

He was a member of Bahia Vista Mennonite Church in Sarasota. He loved music and enjoyed singing and listening to the music of others. His baritone solo voice was warm and natural, his favorite songs formed a central stream of his spirituality.

A great storyteller, his keen memory and dramatic personality brought past events to life for his listeners. His love of Scripture and biblical stories enriched his life and practice of discipleship.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Garnieta; three children, Darlene Ramsey and her husband, John, Wayne and his wife, Cindy, and Keith and his wife, Erika; five siblings, Fred of Fresno, Ohio, Don of Sarasota, Myron of Harrisonburg, Va., Ann Good of Elizabethtown, Pa., and David of Claremont, Calif.; and five grandchildren.

Memorial services were held at Bahia Vista Mennonite Church.