Sharlene Kay Jacobs

Sharlene Kay Wealing Jacobs, of West Lafayette, Indiana, was born on August 6, 1944 and peacefully took her last breath at home, surrounded by those who loved her, on October 8, 2026. In the 82 years between these two moments she filled our lives with love, laughter, courage & strength.

Born in Rensselaer, Indiana, Sharlene was the daughter of Russell (Bud) and Neva Wealing. She was raised on their family farm in Remington, Indiana, alongside her brothers, Ron and Dean. Cooking was one of her specialties. At a very young age, she loved to prepare meals and often took them to her dad and brothers while they were out in the fields. She learned how to put up freezer corn, can green beans, and fill a pantry with things from their home garden.  Growing up on the farm, Sharlene learned the value of hard work, family, faith, and caring for others – qualities that remained at the center of her life.

During high school, Sharlene was actively involved in many activities, including chorus, the school newspaper staff, Pep Club, and Girls 4-H. She also served as class president and was a member of Sigma Alpha Theta. A gifted student, she mastered shorthand and could type faster than anyone else in her typing class! She also had a remarkable talent for writing poetry. Give her a pen, a piece of paper, and a topic, and she could produce a beautiful poem in record time – a gift that reflected her creativity and love for words.

On August 30, 1963, Sharlene married her high school sweetheart Charles W. Justice.  They were married for 26 years. During this time, they traveled to Hawaii, Acapalco, Spain, Ireland, and many other places around the world. They bought their first home in Fowler in 1969 and it was there they raised their three beautiful daughters; Audra Justice Kelly, Heather Justice, and Afton Justice Grabowski. Sharlene was a devoted supporter of Chuck’s entrepreneurial ventures, standing beside him as they built their businesses together. Over the years, they owned and operated Justice Insurance and Real Estate and ran five Pizza King restaurants, sharing in the hard work, challenges, and adventures that came with building a life together.

Family was at the heart of Sharlene’s life and she loved her daughters and grandchildren with all her heart. She was a beloved Grandma/Mimi to her three grandchildren, Mason Kelly (24), Camden Grabowski (12), and Makena Grabowski (10). She treasured every minute she spent with them. She loved attending all the birthday parties, going to their sporting events, baking cookies together, traveling with or to see them, or simply enjoying a day by the pool. Being a grandmother brought her tremendous joy and created beautiful memories they will treasure forever.

Sharlene’s faith was a lifelong part of who she was. Raised in the Baptist church, she grew up with a deep love for the Lord and for gospel music. One of her musical accomplishments was playing the piano in a gospel music group called “The King’s Trio”. They produced an album and a good ol’ fashioned 8 track. She played each Sunday at her home church while living in Fowler and later played the piano at Brown Street United Methodist Church, where people marveled at her ability to play gospel hymns. Music came naturally to Sharlene, and the piano became one of the ways she shared her faith and joy with others. She was blessed to see the Gaither Vocal Band and Bill Gaither perform this past summer. This concert brought her so much joy. Just a few short weeks before she passed away, she was still playing her piano. Listening to her play was always such a blessing, and her love of music and the beautiful gift God gave her will forever be cherished by those who knew and loved her.

Sharlene’s professional life reflected her energy, independence, and ability to connect with people. Not only was she an incredible stay-at-home mom, she also balanced working, which included at VC Fertilizer, Farmers and Merchants Bank, and State Farm before becoming a co-owner of Justice Insurance and Real Estate, a family business. She later became a property manager for Waterford Court Apartments and Arches Apartments in West Lafayette.

Her years as a property manager became such a meaningful chapter in her life. She welcomed students from all over the world as they arrived at Purdue University, helping them find apartments, giving tours, helping them adjust to life in college, and making sure they felt cared for. Sharlene had a remarkable ability to turn strangers into friends. To many Purdue students, she became much more than a property manager – she was their mom away from home.

In 2003, mom met a man named Bill Fowler.  After talking for hours on the phone several times a day for 3 months, they finally had their first face to face meeting and boy was it love. Together they built a beautiful life in West Lafayette. Their relationship was rooted in faith, friendship, companionship, and a genuine enjoyment of one another. They loved watching movies, spending time together, and simply being together. Bill adored Sharlene more than anything else in his life and lived each day to care for her. He lovingly called her “his girl.” Bill describes Sharlene as kind and loving – a woman who was deeply cherished and whose presence brought so much meaning to his life.

Sharlene was a caring, adventurous, funny, and wonderfully hospitable woman who had a special gift for making everyone feel welcome and loved. Her home was always a place where people belonged, and her daughters’ friends were welcomed as part of the family. The Justice house was a favorite gathering place for yummy food, laughter, and swimming in the pool. She was the kind of mom who was always in the stands cheering her children on, and she and Dad spent countless hours at the public pool, sharing in hundreds of swim meets and making memories along the way. As the elementary school room mom, she made every party extra special, and she had a beautiful way of turning holidays and ordinary moments into cherished memories. Sharlene found joy in life’s simple pleasures, whether spending hours shopping, getting lost in a Danielle Steel novel, relaxing in the sunshine by the pool, or enjoying a family vacation at the beach. She loved a good movie, gospel music, decorating, and, most of all, having the people she loved gathered around her. She especially loved cruising in her convertible with the top down, the sun on her face, and the wind in her hair. And no memory of Sharlene would be complete without mentioning her incredible cooking and baking. Her fried chicken, homemade mashed potatoes and gravy, and chocolate sheetcake with her famous caramel icing were family favorites. For Sharlene, loving people meant showing up, opening her home, filling plates, cheering from the sidelines, celebrating life’s milestones, and making sure everyone knew they mattered. These are the moments her family will hold close to their hearts, grateful for the laughter, warmth, and love she gave so freely and for the countless memories that will continue to bring smiles long after she is gone.

Shar was preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Neva Wealing, her brother and sister-in-law, Dean and Beverly Wealing.

She is survived by her three daughters, Audra Justice Kelly and her husband, Mark; Heather Justice; and Afton Grabowski and her husband, Joe; her three grandchildren, Mason Kelly, Camden Grabowski, and Makena Grabowski; Bill Fowler; her brother and sister-in-law, Ron & Lynn Wealing and countless family members, friends, neighbors and others whose lives she touched throughout the years.

She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by the many people who were fortunate enough to call her Momma, Grandma, Mimi, My Girl, sister, friend, and Shar.

She loved people well, lived a full life, and left every place she touched a little warmer than she found it.

We find comfort in placing our trust in Jesus and knowing that our mom is now spending eternity in the presence of our Heavenly Father. Though we will miss her more than words can express, we hold on to the promise of eternal life and the hope that one day we will be reunited in Heaven. John 11:25 – 26 – Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.’”

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at:

Soller-Baker Funeral Home
1184 Sagamore Parkway West
West Lafayette, IN  47906

Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Visitation:         1 – 2pm
Service:           2 – 3pm