Sharon P. Keene

Sharon (Clare) Keene passed away January 18, 2022 at the age of 77. She was born in Philadelphia on March 1, 1944 to Walter Bedloe Clare and Elsie Katherine Clare. 

She graduated from Pennsbury High School in Yardley, PA in 1962.  Sharon was accepted into Rider College in Lambertville, NJ; but instead, at the urging of a friend, joined the Navy in August 1962. During 10 weeks of recruit training in Bainbridge, MD; her good grades landed her on the drill team. From there she was transferred to Newport, Rhode Island's Women Officer Candidate School as Yeoman. 

It was there she met her future husband at a USO dance in May 1963. Howard Keene and Sharon were married in October 1963. They were both discharged in November 1963 and moved to Sparta. She was a member of the Newcomers Club.

After 4 years in Sparta, they moved to Philadelphia for 4 more years and then returned back to Sparta. 

They joined the Congregational Church of Christ. She served on the Stewardship & Mission Board, Pastor-Parish Relations Committee, Women's Fellowship Board and many years on the Board of Deacons as secretary.

Sharon participated in the Out of the Darkness Walk where she walked 26 miles through the night ending at the Washington Monument in 2012 and again around the lake of Chicago in 2013.  It was a moving experience for her to hear people's stories of how suicide impacted their lives and to receive support and encouragement from bystanders along the route all through the night.

She has been a member of the Piece & Quiet Quilt Group of Tomah for more than 20 years. She enjoyed flower gardening as well. In addition, she served as a leader for GS Troop 175 for 10 years. Sharon and Howard were given the Riverland Family Service Award.

Sharon has always taken pride having been born in Philadelphia, the birthplace of our nation, and having served in the Navy.

Her working career included the JCPenney catalog in Sparta, the Congregational United Church of Christ as church secretary, the U.S. Government for the Military Police as a clerk for 7 summers, and the Monroe County Health Department for 27 years as medical transcriptionist and clerk work.

She was very proud of her children and six grandchildren. Sharon was anxiously awaiting the arrival of her first great grandchild in February. Each summer they all would go Keene Camping at a different campground since 1998.

Sharon is survived by her husband Howard of 58 years; children Deanne (Richard) Beaudet, Janice (Tom) Johnson; Christian (Jeanette) Keene; and Jenny (Ardaman) Grewal; grandchildren Zachary and Jacob Beaudet, Nicholas Johnson, Amanda and Alexander Keene, and Sarah Grewal; sisters Carol Johnson, Cheri (Carmelo) Diaz and Joanne Clare; brothers-in-law Harold (Karen) Keene and David (Helen) Keene plus numerous nieces and nephews and their families.  She is preceded in death by parents Walter and Elsie Clare and brother-in-law Daniel Johnson.

Visitation on Saturday, January 22 from 1 - 4 p.m. open to family and friends at Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home and Cremation, Sparta. Masks required per family’s request. Online condolences may be offered at www.schanhoferfh.com

Service on Sunday, January 23 at Congregational United Church of Christ for immediate family and close friends by family invitation. Masks required.

Memorials, if desired, to Sparta Garden Club or Sparta Boys & Girls Club.

Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home and Cremation, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sharon P. Keene, please visit our floral store.