Sharon Kay Philipp, 87 of Wittenberg, passed away on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at Rennes Rehab Center. Sharon was born in Elderon on February 25, 1939, the daughter of Arthur and Merna (Kaufman) Carlson. On April 25, 1959, Sharon married John Philipp and they raised three boys together, Gregory, Jeffrey and Steven. John loved telling stories of the days that he and Sharon were in grade school, and he liked to play jokes on her and pulled her pig tails. He said he knew one day he would marry her and he did. They were happily married for 59 years until John passed away on September 5, 2018.
Following graduation from Birnamwood High School, Sharon worked at Employers Mutual Insurance of Wausau. She left her employment to devote her time to raising the three boys and was a loving mother. While John worked at FWD Seagrave in Clintonville, Sharon was a partner in their two businesses, Philipps Greenhouse and the Island Bar, which they operated for many years. They had fond memories of their customers and formed many close friendships.
After closing those businesses, they cared for a number of foster children for Lutheran Social Services, while John continued working at FWD Seagrave and in 1979, Sharon then went to work for the Wittenberg Birnamwood School District Support Staff for 21 years until her retirement. She loved working with her co-workers and hearing about the exploits of the school children.
Sharon enjoyed camping, snowmobiling, attending Country Hodag music festivals, listening to country music and gardening. What she enjoyed most was spending time with her children, grandchildren and extended family gatherings.
Sharon will be truly missed by her family and friends.
Sharon is survived by her children, Gregory Philipp, Jeffrey (Sharla) Philipp and Steven Philipp; six grandchildren: Jonathon (fiancée Rachel Willems) Philipp, Lisa (Josh) Mulder, Carrie (Jay) Meydam, Nicole (fiancé Devyn Raab) Philipp, Amber (Jordan) Hull and Hailey (Shannon) Fandrey; great grandchildren: Aaron, Josiah, Samuel and Arthur Mulder, Ayden and Issac Meydam, Maddelyn, Levi and Landon Hull and Emersyn Fandrey, and was able to welcome her newest great granddaughter, Willow Kay Raab, born on 2-19-26, and another great grandchild (Fandrey) on the way. Also survived by two sisters, Donna (Stan) Stankowski and Tina Carlson; four brothers, Melvin (Janet) Carlson, Randy (Joanne Arts) Carlson, Rick (Laura) Carlson and Ron (Vicki) Carlson. Sharon is further survived by John's sisters; Rosemary Fierek, Ann Weller, Janice Marquardt, Jo Ann Winkler and a brother, Michael Philipp and many nieces and nephews.
Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Merna, her husband John, one brother Doug Carlson and sister-in-law Chris Carlson; John's sisters; Kay Gee, Mary Staszak, Alice Herrman, Michelle Ebel, Jean Osflag, Barbara Pozorski and Lucille Hinkfuss and Johns parents, Michael Sr. and Anna Philipp.
The family would like to thank Ann Mesich, Wittenberg, for the thoughtful and loving home care that she gave Sharon during her illness and taking her to doctor appointments, and neighbors, Bob Steigerwald, for snow blowing Sharons driveway, and Jenny and Wade Schram, for watching over Sharon's property. Also, to Aspirus Wausau Hospital and Rennes Hospice for their care and support.
