A Tribute Video link has been added to the Sippel Funeral Home Website for those wishing to view the service for Sharon.  Link will be available when the service begins.

In Loving Memory of Sharon Phyllis (Hoekstra) Klessig.

Sharon Phyllis (Hoekstra) Klessig, age 78, of rural Chilton in the Town of Brothertown, was called home to be with the Lord on Sunday, December 21, 2025. She passed peacefully at Homestead Health Services in New Holstein after a courageous journey with Parkinson's disease, having just celebrated her 78th birthday.

Sharon was born on December 19, 1947, in Wausau, Wisconsin, to Theodore and Audrey (Neuhoff) Hoekstra. From an early age, she carried a gentle strength and a compassionate spirit that would guide her throughout her life.

She graduated from Wittenberg High School and later earned her Registered Nursing degree from Fox Valley Technical College. Nursing was not simply Sharon's profession—it was her calling. Through her steady hands and kind heart, she brought comfort, dignity, and hope to countless lives.

On August 16, 1969, Sharon was united in marriage to her beloved husband, DuWayne Klessig, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Wittenberg. Their marriage of 56 years was a beautiful testament to love, faith, and steadfast devotion.

Sharon and DuWayne were longtime, faithful members of their church, Zion Lutheran, where Sharon joyfully dedicated herself to serving others. She served as President of the Altar Guild and was a devoted member of Zion's Couples Club. Answering God's call to care for those in need, Sharon became a Stephen Ministry member, offering compassion and support to the elderly—service in which she took great pride and deep joy.

Her faith shone brightly through her love for God and others. Throughout her life, Sharon remained very close to the Lord, and even through the challenges of her illness, she continued to feel deeply blessed, anchored by her unwavering faith.

Sharon devoted many years of service as a nurse at Calumet Homestead until her retirement, and she also spent parts of her career working at Chilton Hospital, Chilton Village, and the Fond du Lac County Mental Health Center. She will be remembered not only for her years in nursing, but for the lives she touched by stepping into moments of vulnerability with kindness, always serving with dignity, respect, and true compassion.

A woman who found joy in God's creation, Sharon was a lifetime member of Ledge View Nature Center. She was actively involved in fundraising for its original construction and provided long-term support and volunteer service for its many events. She found peace in nature—tending her gardens, delighting in her birds, and marveling at the beauty of the world around her.

Sharon also cherished traveling, especially with her family on annual trips that created lasting memories. She had a deep love for national and state parks, with Glacier National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park holding special places in her heart. She especially loved Norway and traveled extensively throughout Europe. One of her most treasured adventures was to Alaska, where she cruised the Inside Passage, toured the state, and flew over majestic Mount Denali—moments that filled her with awe and gratitude.

Above all else, Sharon was a loving and faithful woman whose greatest joy was her husband, children, and grandchildren. She loved them deeply and selflessly, caring for them with her whole heart. Her life was a reflection of God's love—quietly lived, faithfully given, and generously shared.

Sharon is survived by her beloved husband, DuWayne Klessig; her children, Todd, Chad, and Heather; and her cherished grandchildren, Isaac, Keliah, Bethany, Gabriel, and Simone, who were a constant source of joy and pride in her life.

The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to the caregivers (Tami, Marissa, Addison, Shaye, Tammy, Katrina, Eden, Laura, Amy, Angie, Laura, and Diane) and members of administration at Homestead Health Services and the staff at Calumet County Hospice, whose compassion, kindness, and loving care brought Sharon comfort and dignity. Their devotion and tenderness were a true blessing to her and to those who loved her.

Sharon's legacy lives on in the lives she touched, the faith she lived, the beauty she nurtured, and the love she so freely gave.

A Funeral Service of faith for Sharon will take place at 12:00 PM Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at Zion Lutheran Church, 1702 Van Buren Street, New Holstein, WI 53061. Rev. Azor Cigelske will officiate.

Visitation for family and friends will take place prior to the Service at the church on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, from 10:00 AM until 11:45 AM.

For further information, please contact the Sippel Funeral Home in New Holstein (920) 898-4300 or visit www.sippelfuneralhome.net.