1941 - 2015
Sharon Steel Kientz joined her Lord on June 24, after a long illness. Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, four brothers, and her daughter. She is survived by her husband Marvin Louis Kientz, her son Paul Breton La Fluer, two step children, Randal Louis Kientz (Bevs) and Jane Elise Regan (Dave), two grandchildren Paul Bryan LaFleur and Ty Benjamin Segal as well as six stepchildren and numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins. Sharon was born on April 26, 1941 in eastern Kern County near areas that became the naval Ordinance Test Sation at China Lake which is near present Ridgecrest. During her youth she was focused on music with piano, organ, and voice being her specialities. She was active with the Methodist Church Choir, a marching band, Junior NRA and Shetland ponies. She was married for twenty years to Paul A. La Fleur and had two beautiful children - Susan Celeste and Paul Breton. Later, she married Marvin L. Kientz - a chemistry professor at Sonoma State University. In 1973, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from CSU Fresno and a year later received her teaching credential from Fresno Pacific University. She taught kindergarten at two Naval Stations in Lemore, CA and Santra Rosa, CA. In 1995, she was the National Right to Read Foundation Teacher of the Year. She also received a commendation from the California Legislature Assembly for her success in teaching young children to read phonics. Music was the joy of her life. She was an accomplished musician playing the piano, harpsichord, recorders, guitar, and singing. She sang with several choral groups including the Sonoma Bach Choir, the Fresno Choral Artists, and the Fresno Community Chorus. In 2006, she sang in Carnegie Hall with the latter. In Carson City, she sang with the carson Chamber Singers and founded and performed with Consort Canzona, an early music group of instrumentalists and singers.Throughout her life, Sharon was a faithful member of her church wherever she lived: China Lake, Keflavik (Iceland), Lemoore, Santa Rosa, Auberry and Carson City. She sang in the choir, played the piano, and the organ. She was a member of the DAR and took an especially delight in her family history including her European, Revolutionary War and Civil War ancestors. One of Sharon’s dearest small pleasures was walking in the fresh snow, especially with her beloved German
Shepherd Johann. They both seemed to delight in leaving the first footprints for other hikers to see. Memorial services will be held at Shepherd of the Sierra Lutheran Church in Carson City on July 2, at 11am. Internment of her ashes will be in Tollhouse, California, where she will await the arrival of her dear husband, Marvin. “This world is not a conclusion, a sequel stands beyond, invisible, as music, but positive, as sound”. - Emily Dickinson
