Sharon Jean Garcia

Sharon Jean Garcia passed away on January 7, 2023 at St. Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula, Montana after a short and valiant battle with cancer. She was born August 27, 1937 in Wausau, Wisconsin. Her parents, Toni and Jack Kleist, took her home to Mosinee where she grew up on a small farm. Family and friends who visited during those early years were amazed at her precocity, encouraging her to read and play piano, which she did proficiently. She grew close to her many relatives and always remembered them at Christmas and on birthdays, keeping in touch with them to the last. Education and learning were always important to Sharon. In the one-room elementary school she attended, she rose to the top of the class helping the teacher teach reading and spelling to the younger pupils. In Mosinee High School (Class of 1955) she graduated with honors earning a scholarship to attend any of the University of Wisconsin’s campuses. She selected the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire where she again graduated with honors, earning a degree in English and Secondary Education. While in college, she deepened her appreciation for the arts, serving as head costume designer for the Drama Department and travelling to New York City to attend Broadway Plays. After graduation, Sharon taught English in Menomonee Falls, Marathon, and Cadot, Wisconsin as well as Wagon Mound, New Mexico. In New Mexico she met and married fellow teacher Ricardo Garcia. After marriage, she worked at Monsanto Oil Company in Denver, Colorado, supporting Ricardo in his pursuit of a Doctorate in Education. In 1972, their twins (Shane & Maria) were born. Thereafter, Sharon devoted herself to building a strong bond in her family, following Ricardo as he transferred to different universities in Kansas, Oklahoma, Utah and Montana, insuring Shane and Maria had a stable childhood in spite of the many moves. She was the family anchor. When the twins left for college, she continued supporting Ricardo in his career by moving several more times across the country to other universities in Kansas, Idaho, Wisconsin and Nebraska. During that time period she continued to work at Kelly Accounting in Billings, Montana as a tax preparer during the tax season. She worked alongside other tax preparers and CPAs who respected her for her excellence in tax preparation and her convivial spirit. All were sad when she retired. After Ricardo retired, Sharon followed him one last time, moving to Missoula to be closer to her granddaughters, Anya and Sarah with whom she forged an affectionate bond as Grama Sharon. Daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, friend, teacher, tax-preparer, musician and artist, everything Sharon did was infused with immense love. Her smile warmed the room. Her gentle ways warmed the spirit. Everywhere she went and everything she did made the world a better place. She is survived by her husband Ricardo, children Shane (Neal) and Maria, and granddaughters Anya and Sarah. Also surviving are numerous close cousins and relatives in Wisconsin, Florida, Arizona and Virginia. A Celebration of Life will be planned later this summer. The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff members at St. Patrick’s Hospital for their gentle and compassionate care and the many friends who assisted during the weeks before Sharon’s passing to eternity