Roller retires after 45 years of nursing care

     After 45 years, Sharon Roller of Monticello is retiring from her long-time, dedicated nursing career.

     “I always wanted to be a nurse,” Roller said. “Growing up on the farm, I always loved to help injured or sick animals.”

     When her father, Richard Antons, started having health issues, her focus changed to helping people.

     Roller began her education at Ellsworth Junior College in the mid-‘70s. From there she attended the St. Louis Municipal School of Nursing, and then Kirkwood Community College, where she received her RN degree. In the early ‘80s, Roller completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Throughout all of her years in education, Roller earned high marks and prestige, including Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing-Kappa Beta Chapter.

     Roller completed her nursing career at Camp Courageous, serving as nursing director since 1979. Her career took her all over, working in a variety of nursing positions.

     She was a part-time CNA at a hospital in St. Louis in the mid-‘70s. She worked in orthopedics at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in 1978.

     A part of her career that Roller is proud to talk about working at John McDonald Hospital right here in Monticello (1978-91). Roller served in many capacities while there: surgery/ER, nursing director, associate administrator, and community outreach/education.

     It’s Roller’s history of John McDonald that is on display inside the Monticello Heritage Center. Many of her John McDonald mementos and heirlooms fascinate those who stop by. (The Heritage Center is currently closed to the public due to COVID.)

     Not only was Roller a student at Kirkwood, but she taught there as well over the years from 1987 to the present.

     For the past 40 years, Roller worked inside the first aid/nursing station at the Great Jones County Fair. In 2016, Roller and her daughter, Christine Engwall, received the Friend of the Fair Award for their service.

     In 1991, Roller was hired as a nurse clinician at Four Oaks in Monticello. She was the first-ever full-time nurse at the center.

     When Roller started working at Camp Courageous, she was hired in ’79 as part-time. They changed in ’91 when she became full-time, until her retirement in December 2020.

     “I enjoyed all aspects of nursing,” Roller recalled of her long-held career.

     Those departments consisted of emergency care, surgery, orthopedics, med-surg (medical-surgical), and camp nursing.

     From 1980-91, Roller became a Nurse of Hope, offering cancer education programs throughout Iowa.

     Roller is a natural “people person,” so caring for others, especially the sick and injured, is something that comes easy to Roller. (From a personal standpoint, in 2019, this editor spent some time inside the first aid station at the GJCF due to heat exhaustion. I can personally attest to Roller’s level of care and affection for her patients.)

     “Holding the hand of a terminally ill patient, or working with a physically or mentally challenged individual provides the greatest satisfaction,” Roller said.

     The ups and down follow any profession, no matter how many years one dedicates his/her time.

     “Disappointments are all around us,” Roller eloquently said. Her mentality is to “stay positive and pass it forward to shine light on someone who is experiencing difficulties.”

     Having served in the nursing profession for 45 years, Roller has certainly seen a lot of changes in her time.

     “Nursing is in constant change. It is most challenging to keep up with the technological advances and updated procedures.”

     Roller said the ongoing pandemic has and continues to be the most challenging yet, especially for those in the medical field.

     “The current pandemic played an integral part in mt decision to retire,” she shared. “I was furloughed from Camp Courageous for the majority of 2020.”

     Roller is hopeful more and more people get vaccinated.

     “I’ve loved what I do and like to stay involved,” added Roller.

     In her retirement, Roller is looking forward to spending more time with her grandchildren.

     “Family is at the top of my list!”

     Her son and his wife, Charlie and Kelsey, have 15-month-old twin girls, Natalie and Heidi.

     Roller’s daughter and son-in-law, Christine and Justin, are expecting their first child in June.

     “Grandma will be very busy!”

     Roller recalled a bit of sage advice she was once given: “You are busier being retired than if you are actually working.”

     That will also prove true for herself.

     “I plan to continue teaching for Kirkwood as the need arises and keep my status as a first-aid/CPR instructor for the American Heart Association.”

     And she will still be seen during the five best days of summer inside the first-aid station at the GJCF in July.

     “Working as a nurse provides a great deal of love and satisfaction,” Roller said fondly. “I will miss the staff and campers (at Camp Courageous).”

     Roller’s motto: “What you do for yourself dies with you, but what you do for others lives on forever!”