Sarah Klinefelter

SARAH KLINEFELTER

Branson, Mo.

Sarah Ruth Klinefelter, 78, of Branson, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017. A celebration of life service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Branson at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4.

Sarah Ruth (Stephens) Klinefelter was born Jan. 30, 1938, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Mary (Adams) Stephens and Edward J. Stephens. Sarah attended William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., in 1956-1957 and transferred to Drake University in Des Moines, where she acquired her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1959. She then attended the University of Iowa in Iowa City, where she achieved her Master of Arts in English, speech, drama and educational administration in 1968.

Sarah received specialized training as a fellow in the Institute for Management of Lifelong Education, Harvard University, in 1984; fellow in the Executive Management Institute, University of Wisconsin, in 1987; and attended Sabbatical Study in Fund Raising and Institutional Advancement at George Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, 1991-1992.

Her teaching career began at Carl Sandburg High School, Orland Park, Ill., as chairman of the Speech Department from 1959 to 1964. She then became chairman of the Humanities Division at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School in Palos Hills, Ill., from 1964 to 1968. Sarah became division dean at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids from 1969 to 1978. It was here that she met Neil Klinefelter, and they married on Dec. 11, 1971, in Cedar Rapids. Neil and Sarah moved to Branson, Mo., in 1978. Sarah became a professor at College of the Ozarks and taught courses in English, public speaking, communications, humanities, commercial music business and history of the Broadway musical. In 1989, Sarah was named division chairman, Division of Performing and Professional Arts at the College of the Ozarks, and remained there until her retirement in 2001. Sarah also acted as general manager of KCOZ-FM from 1986 to 1989.

Sarah worked from 1985 to 2014 for the elderhostel organization as program coordinator, program developer and lead instructor, teaching enrollees about "Branson Show Biz," along with developing "Branson Kids," a multi-generational program about Branson. She was active in the Taney Hills Community Library and many other organizations in her community.

When Sarah married Neil, she inherited four children: Marsha Royer (Greg) of Green Valley, Ariz., Denise Belford of Little Rock, Ark., Sheila (George) Pirtle of Cedar Rapids and Brian (Kim) Klinefelter of Fairfax; 10 grandchildren: Danica, Ezra, Chelsea, Charles, Josh, Gideon, Amanda, Justine, Emily and Jared; and many great-grandchildren.

Sarah was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Mary; and her loving husband, Neil Klinefelter.

Sarah loved Neil, her students, her wonderful friends, her family and Branson. She would not have lived anywhere else.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Taney Hills Community Library, 200 S. Fourth St., Branson, MO 65616, in her honor.

Arrangements are under the direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home in Branson.