Henry Frank Leclerc

Our dear brother Henry passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at the Palm Retirement in Fullerton, where he had been living for several years. He was the eldest son of Robert and Jacqueline Leclerc. He is survived by his older sisters Anne Newland and Marie Russell, and his younger brother John Leclerc; as well by his nieces and nephews Jason Thoresen, Jennifer and Jessie Nerren, Amanda Hicks; Marguerite and Matthew Klumb (the children of his deceased younger sister, Françoise Klumb); and John Michael Leclerc.

Henry Frank Leclerc was born in Tunis, Tunisia on March 19, 1949, and was baptized Henri Marie François Leclerc. His childhood was spent in Tunisia, with some summertime trips to La Rochelle in France, until 1957 when the family emigrated to California.

He became a US citizen on July 8, 1966, along with his siblings, and at that time changed his name to Henry Frank Leclerc.

Henry's wife of several years Sharlene Thomas, survived him by only a few hours, passing away at Providence St. Jude Medical Center, also on Thursday, October 9, 2025, shortly after 5 PM. They had no children.

Henry was a veteran, having served two terms with the US Army, and was based in Germany at that time; and one term with the US Navy. He was a motor pool mechanic in the Army, and in the Navy he was an airman apprentice mechanic. He had been on the USS Coral Sea at the time of the Iranian hostage crisis and the attempted rescue, in 1980.

His hobbies included building model cars from kits, playing the electric guitar, and working on cars. At one time he had a real muscle car, a red Chevy Nova which he eventually sold to John, who did not keep it either, the car was just too fast...

We will all miss Henry very much. In his later years, he became very withdrawn and quiet, and kept himself mostly to himself. But I know he enjoyed hearing news of the family, which I always passed on to him, he cared about all of us. I was very fortunate that he wanted to call me every evening, at 7 PM, for the past six years. This daily phone call meant a lot to both of us, and I will always remember the sound of his voice, with love in my heart.

A private scattering of ashes at sea is planned.