In Loving Memory of Sarah Susanne (Kallman) Jensen

via Susie Liddicoat

Some people spend a lifetime searching for their purpose. Sarah found hers in loving others. She gave her heart freely, her strength quietly, and her time generously. Whether she was caring for her family, encouraging a friend, or planning the next adventure, she made the people she loved feel like they mattered most. That was her gift, and it became her legacy.

Sarah was born on February 8, 1957, in Santa Barbara, California, to Theodore Kallman and Susanne Ayers. In 1958, her family moved to Quincy, California, where she spent much of her childhood before eventually settling in Nevada.

Quincy always held a special place in Sarah's heart. It was where some of her happiest memories were made, and she returned whenever she could—proudly taking Kirk to the town she loved and looking forward each summer to alumni gatherings, where she reconnected with lifelong friends and revisited the place that always felt like home. She also cherished Virginia City, where she graduated from Virginia City High School in 1975. She loved its rich history, its spirit, and the lifelong friendships she built there. Many of those friends remained among her closest companions throughout her life.

Sarah grew up with her brothers, Steve, William, and Dan Kallman. Family remained an important part of her life and the story of who she became.

If you asked those who knew Sarah to describe her, you would hear the same words repeated: tenacious, loyal, caring, honest, and just the right amount of feisty. She possessed a quiet strength that carried her through life's greatest challenges. She rarely complained, never sought recognition for the sacrifices she made, and always found a way to keep moving forward.

Family was the center of Sarah's world. Sarah had a remarkable gift for making the people she loved feel seen, heard, and unconditionally accepted. She instinctively placed the needs of her children, her husband, and those she loved before her own—not because she had to, but because loving others was simply who she was. She was the person everyone called when life became difficult because she listened without judgment, offered wisdom without criticism, and loved without conditions. Her children never questioned whether she would be there for them—she always was.

She was our rock.

Yet Sarah was so much more than the sacrifices she made. She had an unmistakable zest for life. She loved the energy of live concerts, the freedom of the open road, and the excitement of discovering somewhere new. Every road trip had its own carefully crafted playlist because, to Sarah, music wasn't simply background noise—it became part of the adventure. Long drives, laughter with friends, windows rolled down, and favorite songs playing became some of life's sweetest memories.

Then, on New Year's Eve in 1995, Sarah married her best friend, Kirk Jensen.

In Kirk, she found not only the love of her life but the companion she had always hoped for. Together they built the life she had dreamed of—one filled with adventure, laughter, travel, and unwavering love. Whether they were exploring a new place, returning to beloved Quincy, or simply enjoying the journey together, they cherished every moment. Their marriage was a beautiful reminder that sometimes life's greatest blessings arrive exactly when they're meant to.

Above all else, Sarah was most proud of being a mother and grandmother.

She leaves behind her beloved husband, Kirk Jensen; her daughter, Patricia Brouhard, and husband, Jeremiah, their children, Aiden and Addison; her son, Erik Johansson, his wife, Beth, and their son, Buddy; and her daughter, Susie Liddicoat, her husband, Ty, and their children, Adora, Marcus, and Luca. 

She is also survived by Steve Kallman, William and Cathy Kallman, Karen and Jamie Jensen, along with many lifelong friends who became family through decades of shared memories.

Sarah taught those around her that strength isn't loud. It is found in showing up. In keeping your promises. In putting others first. In loving fiercely, forgiving quickly, and standing beside the people you love no matter what life brings.

Even in the face of illness, she met each day with extraordinary courage and resilience. She never let her diagnosis define her. Instead, she continued to love deeply, care for others, and remind us all what quiet bravery looks like.

While our hearts are broken by her passing on May 18, 2026, we are profoundly grateful for the years we were blessed to share with her. Her legacy lives on in the values she instilled, the memories she created, and the love she poured so generously into everyone fortunate enough to know her.

When we hear our favorite songs, take the scenic route home, or gather around a table filled with family, we will think of Sarah. We will smile through our tears because those moments are exactly how she taught us to live—with gratitude, laughter, loyalty, and love.

She was our safe place.

She was our biggest cheerleader.

She was the heart of our family.