It is with heavy hearts and much love that we mourn the passing of Jill Leslie Haungs-Kimbler, beloved wife, mother, “Grammer”, sister and friend who left us peacefully on July 19, 2025.
She was born on March 15, 1962, to Mary L. Shelburne-Haungs and Wesley D. Haungs in Fresno Ca. She attended Thomas and Fort Washington Elementary schools, Clark Junior High school and then graduated from Sierra High School in 1980 where she was active in FFA. She then attended Fresno City and Fresno State Colleges. Later in life she became a UC Master Gardener in Fresno County where she worked with several large clients creating outdoor masterpieces.
In 1981 she married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life Ben Kimbler. They moved onto his family ranch in Tollhouse where they started a family of their own and ranched for the next 44 years. As a devoted ranch wife, she worked tirelessly filling the roles of cowhand, fencer, truck driver, master scheduler and head cook who always made sure that anyone who came to help was over-fed. As a mother to Jay and Wesley she offered constant support, wisdom and encouragement that shaped their lives in countless beautiful ways. She always made sure her boys were able to attend every sports practice, game, speaking contest, livestock show, 4-H/FFA activity or camping/fishing/hunting trip they could ever want to attend or participate in.
Jill was a woman of faith and her love for Jesus Christ was shown in the way she loved and served the community around her. She believed in kindness, in giving without expecting, and in lifting others up. Her church was the whole mountain community that she worked and lived alongside to make this a better place to live and raise children. She embodied Matthew 6:1 in the way she worked behind the scenes supporting community organizations including Sierra Ag Boosters, Sierra 4-H, Master Gardeners, MCRF and Mountainwear to name a few. She never expected or wanted recognition or even her photo taken. Her impact will be felt for years to come. We miss her deeply, but we carry her spirit forward in the way we live, love, and care for each other.
Jill is survived by her husband Ben Kimbler; son Jay (wife Nicole, daughter Addison, sons Wyatt and Reed) Kimbler; son Wesley (wife Jessica, daughter Charlee, son Ben) Kimbler; her sisters Darinda Otto, Lorrie Tranberg, and Michelle Lerma; and numerous nieces, nephews/grand nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, August 1, 2025 at the Kimbler Ranch at 11:30 a.m. Bring a dish to share and a memory to celebrate the joy Jill brought to our lives.
In lieu of flowers or cards, remembrances can be sent in the form of donations to the Sierra FFA Memorial Scholarship, located at 33326 Lodge Road, Tollhouse, California, 93667 or charity of your choice.
