Sharlene A. “Shar” Gapinski, age 87 of St. Cloud, MN formerly of Sauk Centre, MN, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 22, 2026 surrounded by the love of all her children at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota. In her final days we made sure our beautiful mother was wrapped in peace, soft music playing, gentle touches, whispered memories, and endless love and kisses.
A memorial service will be held at 12 p.m. Saturday, March 14, 2026 at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre with Steven Wielenberg officiating.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Sharlene Ann Hubbell was born May 16, 1938 in Duluth, Minnesota to Wilford and Stella (Buczynski) Hubbell. In 1956, she graduated from Thornton Fractional North High School in Calumet City, Illinois. She met her husband-to-be on a blind date and married Richard John Gapinski on Friday, December 13, 1957. The couple moved to Sauk Centre where they raised 10 children: five boys and five girls. Together Richard and Sharlene purchased property on the edge of Sauk Centre by Fleet Supply, and opened their own lumberyard, called Dick’s Lumber, Inc. Along with being a homemaker, Shar helped at the lumber yard until retiring in 1993.
Shar enjoyed dancing, singing, walking, fishing, camping, and traveling the country in their RV. Their favorite vacation spots were traveling to the mountains in Montana and numerous trips to Florida. Despite all their travelling, Shar stayed true to her catholic faith. She also enjoyed playing Bingo and was known as the “Bingo Queen” to her family, shaking 654 dice, and leading exercise classes and helping others at the Mother of Mercy Assisted Living in Albany.
Survivors include her children and their spouses, Elizabeth (Richard) Wolbeck of Breezy Point, Tim (Tina) Gapinski of Sauk Centre, Joy Hittle of Alexandria, John (Lynell) Gapinski of Chaska, Todd (Barb) Gapinski of Sauk Centre, Barbara McMillan of Maple Grove, Susan (Jim) Bakken St. Joseph, David (Gina) Gapinski of Sauk Centre, Kevin (Cindy) Gapinski of Rice and Judy (Chad) Arneson of Brooklyn Park; 23 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren with another great grandchild due in March; brother, Wilford Hubbell Jr. of Calumet City, Illinois; and sister-in-law, Renee Gapinski of St. Joseph.
Shar was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard Gapinski on January 6, 2014; son-in-law, Randy Hittle on December 12, 2023.
Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Sauk Centre.
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