OTTUMWA – Shari Bral, 49, of Ottumwa, passed away from complications of Influenza A at 10:29 p.m. Tuesday December 30, 2025, at Mercy One Hospital in Des Moines.
Shari Ann Bral, the daughter of Marvin N. and Judy (Halverson) Moss, was born on July 23, 1976, in Clarion, IA. Shari was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church and remained strong in her Christian belief, regularly attending church and Sunday School, serving on the church council, singing in the church choir and even leading the singing for church. Her favorite song was “O Holy Night.”
Shari attended Dows Community School, where she graduated as salutatorian of the Dows High School class of 1995. During her school years, Shari was involved in track, speech, band and chorus. Outside of school, Shari was active in 4-H, earning numerous ribbons and awards at both the local and state levels. Some of Shari’s prize entries at the Iowa State Fair were her home canned sauerkraut, angel food cake and refinished antique teacher’s desk.
Shari attended University of Northern Iowa, receiving 2 degrees in Spanish: Bachelor of Arts in 1998 and Master of Arts in 2001. Upon completing her college education, Shari was employed in various areas in Cedar Falls and Colorado Springs, CO. In 2003, Shari taught Spanish at Des Moines Area Community College; In 2004-2005 Shari worked at Work Force Development in helping people find employment.
Since 2005, Shari had been employed as an Income Maintenance Worker with the State of Iowa Department of Human Services in Ottumwa. At DHS Shari used both Spanish and English in working with clients on the eligibility to various government programs and services.
On October 7, 2005 while doing a play together for Ottumwa Community Players, Shari met her future husband, Slade Bral. On March 12, 2011, Shari and Slade were married at First Lutheran Church in Ottumwa.
Shari loved to cook and bake, with her specialties being molasses cookies and angel food cake; she won blue ribbons for both at the Iowa State Fair. Shari was known by her family as the expert fisherman, even ice fishing with her dad.
Shari Bral is survived by her parents, Marvin and Judy Moss of Galt; brother, Kyle Moss of Clarion; Aunts and Uncles, Sandra Halverson of Spencer; Joan (Jon) Horton of Earlham; Gary Moss of Benton, AR; Kevin (Sue) Moss of Clarion; Cousins, Julie Horton of Ankeny; Carla (Gordon) Morgan of Boquete, Panama; Matthew (Katina) Moss of Bryant, AR; Timothy (Renee) Moss of Benton, AR; Great Aunt Ardyce Hanson of Ames, friends, co-workers, and anyone who was fortunate to have been inspired by Shari. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Aunt Pam Moss in 2023, her faithful dog Furbie, and her beloved husband Slade Bral in 2015.
Services have been held.
Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church in Ottumwa or St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ottumwa or St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Albia.