Obituary of Lynn Robin Scearcy
Lynn Robin (Sandberg) Scearcy passed away Saturday, May 18, 2019 after a heartbreakingly brief bout with cancer and other complications. She was surrounded by her family and a multitude of friends throughout her last month in the hospital and hospice and passed peacefully and surrounded by love. Lynn is survived by her husband of 47.5 years (plus many of courtship before that), Jim Scearcy, her children Ted (Lindsay) Scearcy, Robin (Jake) Fischer, and Erin Larson, her beloved grandchildren: Eli, Rosie, Olivia, and Llewyn, her brother Steve (Shari), niece VeRonica, her grand-pups Norman and Harvey, and her precious cat, Olive. She is preceded in death by her parents (Robin and Rudie Sandberg), her sister (Jill Sandberg) and her son-in-law (Brian Larson), and many dear pets. She is loved by many others alive and in spirit as well – you are all simply too numerous to list, and for that, we recognize our good fortune.
Growing up in Pillager, MN, Lynn was active in her small community. She met Jim as preschoolers and they enjoyed a friendship and relationship that lasted until her last day on this earth and continues beyond the veil. She had many friends and talents and excelled in school.
Dr. Lynn Scearcy enjoyed an illustrious career in education which began as an English teacher in Fridley, MN and wove through Minnetonka (assistant principal and principal), professor of education (University of MN), and finally as an assistant superintendent in Chaska, MN. She was deeply passionate about education, kids (especially middle schoolers), school leadership, networking, and specifically mentoring and working with fellow female leaders. The vastness of her network during this time of illness and death did not surprise us but we were moved daily by the sincere and profound outpouring of support from so many, all over the world.
Even more impressive than her stellar career, Lynn was an incredibly generous, intelligent, and engaged friend and family member. In her marriage she modeled commitment, how opposites attract, and true equal partnership. As a mother she was present, fierce, unconditionally loving, never kept score, and was instantly ready to support anywhere, anytime, any “how”. She spent oodles of time with her grandchildren and was always available for daycare or a sleepover. They will always remember her homemade treats, surprise gifts, and warm snuggles. She also “adopted” many other people, families, and children throughout her life. We do not even know the extent of these truly vast connections but the stories warm our hearts. So many called her “a second mom”, a consistently and genuinely kind person, or someone who helped out during a time of need without expectation of acknowledgement or repayment. How lucky are we that she was ours? We are humbled by the massive reach of her spirit.
Lynn was so full of life, it is hard to understand that her earthly time is over. However, a spirit of that magnitude does not simply disappear, it ripples and lingers and lives on in all of us whom she has deeply impacted during her 68.5 years on earth. We hope that you remember Lynn for her warmth, her generosity, her sharp intellect, her open heart and home, her willingness to go far beyond the call of duty, her passion for education, her baking skills, and the fact that we could never capture her gifts in an obituary, even with Oxford commas galore. We ask that you imprint her laugh, her heart, and her commitment to people and lifelong learning. We hope that you offer support to someone in need, no matter how distantly connected, and feed one more person at your holiday table. We pray that it occurs to you to send a note, a care package, a Facebook message, or a random gift when you are moved to – for she always did. We are comforted by the beautiful and intricate web that she has woven and have been held in your love and support as we held her in ours.
We, her family, are holding a memorial for her on Tuesday, June 25th from 4-8pm at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, MN. An additional memorial service will be held in Pillager, MN in July. Come laugh, reminisce, cry, connect, and create some energy in a beautiful setting in remembrance of one of the all-time greats. May we all love and connect a little more as we embody her power and heart. We hold her forever in our hearts and thank you for doing the same.
Additional memorial service will be Friday, July 26th at 1pm at First Lutheran Church in Pillager, MN
In leau of memorials, donations are preferred to Toys for Tots. Checks can be sent to 5905 34th Ave S Minneapolis MN 55450 and made out to Marine Toys for Tots. Online donation can be made on toysfortots.org on the donation tab. Just make sure you pick and annotate that it is for the Minneapolis campaign if you choose for the money to stay locally.
Love,
Jim, Ted, Robin, Erin, Lindsay, and Jake
