Jill Sheldon-Hlas

Jill Annette Sheldon-Hlas, 67, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, left Earth to celebrate her new life in heaven on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

Born in Cedar Rapids on January 5, 1959, Jill was the daughter of Rosalie and Gilbert “Gib” Sheldon of Clarence, Iowa. She was the youngest of eight siblings, following Dennis, Connie, Philip, Janice, Ronnie, Barbara, and Nancy. Jill spent her youth in Clarence, Iowa, before moving to Southern California after graduating from high school. She returned to Iowa to attend Kirkwood Community College to study graphic arts. That's where she met Craig Hlas, whom she married nearly 45 years ago.

The couple had two sons, Vincent and Justin, whom Jill taught at home for part of their time in elementary school. From using the location of baseball teams and Craig's work travels on a large U.S. map to teach geography to making games out of little things, Jill helped the boys advance in the basics before they went to high school. She never graded the most important life lessons - manners, curiosity, accountability, gratitude, getting along with others - but she guided the boys with care.

From knowing every playground in a 30-mile radius to sharing in family trips and mending things and making things by hand, Jill was all about experiences over material things. She celebrated Vince's marriage to Elizabeth and the birth and growth of two wonderful granddaughters, Milena and Isabelle. She marveled as Justin's reading comprehension and breadth of interests grew over time - that after another teacher said, "You just can't read." Both sons achieved the type of independence and the courage to try new things that made Jill so proud.

Jill enjoyed gardening - especially growing flowers that would attract an array of butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. Growing vegetables became as much about giving away produce as it did making salads or tomato sauce at home. She loved music from contemporary Christian to Huey Lewis and Elvis. Jill's travel interests ranged from country drives on county roads to multiple trips to France, where she once had a French couple convinced that she spoke their language by the way she said "Bonjour!" as she held a door open for them.

No matter where she went, Jill would compliment people for anything that sincerely caught her attention - a scarf, a brooch, a colorful blouse, or even the occasional tattoo. She made many people's days brighter with just a kind word.

Jill was an artist and enjoyed sharing her work with others. From painstaking shading with colored pencils to trying her hand at oils, pastels, and other mediums, she loved to develop her skills and teach others a technique or two along the way.

Over more than four decades, Jill had nine cats (not counting a couple of fostering stints)-most recently Howie and Jasmine - all of whom brought much laughter and comfort.

She enjoyed watching movies old and new with Craig - with a special affinity for vintage comedies and classic dramas with stars like Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, James Stewart, Sidney Poitier, and many others. While their boys were growing up, Jill and Craig would make it to about 1.5 movies a year - all of them starring Tom Hanks.

Following her wishes, Jill was cremated. An informal celebration of life will take place at her home from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026. The location: 1314 K Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids.

The family would like to thank friends and the professional and kind helpers with Winslow House Nursing Home and Mercy Hospice. Everything mattered.