Sheree Konkle (Bailey)

Sheree Kay Konkle, 60, passed away from this life and through heaven’s gates at 10:15 a.m. May 30, 2017 in her Warsaw, Indiana home surrounded by her family after a 19-year courageous battle with cancer.
She was born August 18, 1956 in Granite City, Illinois to Loren and Patsy (Hampsey) Bailey. She graduated from Jennings High School (Jennings, Missouri) in 1974.
On November 29, 1974, she was united in holy matrimony to Ronald “Ron” Konkle in St. Louis, Missouri.
As a young teenager, she developed a deep burden for persecuted Christians in Communist Eastern Europe. In 1983 she and Ron took their first of many missions trips to Communist Eastern Europe smuggling Bibles, christian literature and gifts to heavily persecuted Christians. The dangers were many with long prison sentences for those caught trying to smuggle Bibles, etc. into these countries. Though very aware of these dangers, she bravely took on these “missions” returning year after year alongside her husband. After the fall of communism, she and her family moved to the country of Bulgaria where they worked as missionaries for a time. In 1999, though she was struggling with the side effects of cancer and chemotherapy, she went on a three-week missions trip with her husband to the country of India. While there, the church people treated her with wonder and respect as she was the first white woman to brave these less than ideal conditions in 50 years.
She also tirelessly helped her husband as they evangelized for many years and pastored several churches over their forty-two-year marriage.
One of the greatest joys in her life was being able to become a mother to her children: Daniel and Anna. She taught and homeschooled her children for the majority of their education all the while traveling from church to church. Her patience and perseverance were among some of her many admired qualities. She loved to be outside playing sports, especially with her son and, much to his annoyance, usually beat him at his game. But she also loved working cross-word puzzles and spending time with her daughter who “loved the great indoors.” Her children will forever be in her debt for all of the many sacrifices she made for them and most of all for the time and attention she gave them. Thy will cherish her memory forever.
In later years, she also took the greatest care of her parents – tirelessly assisting them with the many needs they had. Many, many times she pushed herself beyond her own strength to be attentive to their each and every need. She loved them fiercely.
Sheree was also known for the way she loved and enjoyed being around people. No matter how busy she was or, in later years how bad she felt, she always had time for people. From the time she was a child, she has always been the ultimate fighter for “the underdog,” many times befriending those less fortunate than her – the elderly, etc. She always tried to speak to each and every person in the churches Ron pastored. She made all of those around her feel welcome and important. She strove daily to be a witness and share God’s love with each and every person she encountered. With her warm personality, quick smile, and a heart bigger than the Grand Canyon, she was a role model to all of those she’s left behind.
She will be greatly missed by her family and friends alike and will forever be remembered as a beloved wife, a cherished and adored mother, a wonderful daughter and sister, a loyal friend, and most of all, the greatest Christian known to this earth. Our loss is heaven’s gain.
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4.
Surviving is her husband, Rev. Ronald Konkle, Warsaw; a daughter, Anna Konkle, Warsaw; her parents, Loren and Patsy Bailey, Warsaw; a sister, Pam (Mike) Edens, Tulsa, OK; a sister, Donna (John) Marsten, Foley, Missouri; a sister-in-law, Melinda Bailey, New Palestine, IN. She is preceded in death by her son, Daniel Konkle (May 9, 2016) and a brother, Larry Bailey (March 22, 2015).
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 6th, with a friend of the family, The Rev. Robert Thompson, officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw.
Calling is from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday, June 5th, at Titus Funeral Home.
Donations are requested in lieu of flowers for Sheree’s funeral expenses.
Written by: Anna Konkle