I remember Sue and I following Shari around when we were kids - we wanted to be just like her. So sorry for your loss! Kevin & Ann Nordstrom

Posted by Ann Nordstrom on August 31, 2020

I had the honor of working with Shari at Brown County and again at the MN Dept of Human Services. She was always so caring of her clients and everyone around her. You always knew you had her full attention when you were with her. She will be truly missed. Micara, our sincere condolences. Ruth and Rich DeSaer, Sleepy Eye.

Posted by Ruth DeSaer on August 31, 2020

I made a promise to Shari to share what it was like being a professional colleague of hers. I had the privilege of sharing this directly with her a few months ago and thought the virtual guestbook would be a good place for these thoughts to live. I worked with Shari from the moment she came to Olmsted County Child & Family Services and all through her journey with Minnesota Prairie County Alliance and I will definitely be calling on our many thought provoking conversations and memories to carry the spirit of her ethics and the work forward. To be a colleague was impossible without developing a meaningful relationship with her – that is/was the essence of Shari – the work was deeply personal and the urgency of improved results for children, young people and their families ever present. Laughter was a daily requirement working with Shari and her laugh was infectious – she was only one of two people in my life I had to refrain from looking at in meetings – the likelihood of setting off an uncontrollable and contagious fit of laughter was certain. Shari’s emotional intelligence and pure brainpower was always in play – she embraced the work around critical thinking and reflection and she never backed down from the difficult problems – we all embraced finding ways to solve the puzzles and the more people around the table to lend their views, the better. I have always known Shari to be an exceptionally generous person – her time, her energy - giving her very best; her love of learning made striving to give her best set new benchmarks for excellence. Shari exemplified an unequaled work ethic – she truly and joyfully immersed herself in her life’s work – building solutions to the seemingly intractable problems that accompanies working within the context of painful childhoods and needs for family supports. She has always been devoted to creatively thinking though improved designs for service to families and communities – holding high expectations for excellence in practice while being ever present to support and guide practitioners. We are all better for having been in relationship with her and I have heartfelt gratitude for having the opportunity to have spent decades working with her.

Posted by Sue Lohrbach, PhD on August 31, 2020

While I didn't know Shari personally, I know the Kottke family. It is evident Shari enriched the lives of everyone she knew. May God comfort you in her loss, and cherish happy memories. Love to all of you. Eunie

Posted by Eunice Christensen on August 30, 2020

My condolences to the Kottke family in this difficult time.

Posted by Deb Grams Patten on August 30, 2020

Shari was a wonderful lady she will be deeply missed.

Posted by Nate and Sasha Tomasek on August 28, 2020

I graduated with Shari in 1976. We also rolled the same school bus together. Just want to send my condolences. I wish I would have gotten together with her before she passed. I didn’t realize how close we lived to each other.

Posted by Lori Enstad-Schiller on August 28, 2020

Shari was my wonderful mentor at the Crisis Nursery serving Wright County. Since 1995 our respect for each other grew into an even greater friendship. I will love her forever! RIP my friend, Diane Coffield, Monticello Mn

Posted by Diane Coffield on August 28, 2020

My deepest sympathies to the Kottke Family.

Posted by Barb Schmidt Aasen on August 28, 2020

I have wonderful memories of working with Shari at Wright County. She was not only great at her job, she was funny and really cared for and loved the folks that were lucky enough to have her as their worker. I also called her a friend. I did not get to see very often, but when I did she was a wonder.

Posted by Tamara Chiglo on August 28, 2020

Rest in Peace Shari

Posted by JD-Terri (Formo) Stenersen on August 27, 2020

Josh, You, and your family, are in our thoughts and prayers. It was an honor to have met you mom, she was a wonderful lady. Our deepest sympathy, Tami and Timberly Kremer

Posted by Tami Kremer on August 27, 2020

Shari and I had dinner a few years back. We hadn’t seen each other in 40 years. We had such a great time catching up with everything that had transpired over the last 40 years. It was like we had never been apart. I was a bridesmaid in her wedding and having so much enjoying Shari’s and Ron’s special day. So sorry to hear about her passing. Shari was a dear, sweet lady.

Posted by Ann Mack on August 27, 2020