Sharon Lee Kleinhans

Sharon Kleinhans entered this world in 1941 and walked with God until April 25, 2025. A woman of strong faith, Sharon served Him in many ways. The community of St. Clare's Catholic Church in Three Rivers knew her as the music director of the Saturday evening mass, but her ministry began when she was 15 and entered the convent of Sisters of Mercy in Burlingame, California. She went on to earn a BA and an MA from Notre Dame University in Indiana in the 1970's. She taught math at Mercy High School in San Francisco where she also began an outdoor educational experience for small groups of students, taking them on short trips as part of an outdoor educational program. This included rafting and camping along the American River, and learning to survive in the snow. In one summer in the 1970's, she and two other sisters of Mercy, spent one month living off the land, eating vegetables they grew and rabbits they raised for food. She was known for her backpacking trips into the High Sierras bringing along any fellow Sisters who were willing to go with her. Sharon left the Sisters of Mercy in 1984. She worked at the Deer Hollow Farm, a 10 acre farm in the middle of a 2,180 acre wilderness preserve in Los Altos, California. It attracts about 130,000 visitors a year and offers hands on environmental experiences to about 5,000 elementary and middle school students a year, and includes seven weeks of summer wilderness camps. Sharon was one of four adults, who along with many volunteers, who managed this farm. She served there as a gardener, farmer and "creator" where she started the Phoebe Garden, made tools for the Ohlone Indian classes, and so much more. In 2002, Sharon retired from the Farm and moved to a little farm in Visalia left to her by her late father, Norbert Kleinhans. She lived there for the rest of her life enjoying her horses and many riding expeditions, as well as several domestic animals. Sharon is preceded in death by her parents, Norbert ad Gerry Kleinhans. She is survived by many cousins including Father Rod Craig, Cedric Kleinhans, Colin Watamura, and Kevin Kleinhans, and an aunt, Sue Kleinhans. She also leaves behind long-time friends, Sister Kathleen RSM, and Mary Gilman, as well as Karen Wallen and Lupe Schubert. Visitation will begin at 4:00 Thursday evening, May 8, and a rosary will be said at 6:00 PM at Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel, 127 E. Caldwell, Visalia. A funeral Mass will be held at the St. Anthony Retreat Center in Three Rivers Friday, May 9 at 11:00 AM. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Sharon Lee Kleinhans

October 4, 1941 - April 28, 2025