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Karen (Wittmer) Jekel

Posted 2017-12-11 by Judy Wight Branson
Camp Verde Bugle, Camp Verde, Arizona
Saturday, December 9, 2017

Karen Wittmer Jekel passed away peacefully in her home in Cornville,
AZ on December 2, 2017, after a brief, but valiant fight against
bile duct cancer. Karen was born February 7, 1952, in Detroit,
Michigan to Everett “Lee” Wittmer and Mary Louise Wittmer.

She is survived by her husband Lou Jekel, her mother Mary Wittmer,
brothers Mark and Marty Wittmer and sister Margo Kost and their
spouses as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Karen was nationally known for her pioneering leadership in the
newspaper industry. Many in the industry recognized her for her
strong, insightful, and dedicated advocacy to the publishing
business. She also received numerous awards throughout her career.
She began her career as a retail advertising sales representative at
the Detroit Free Press and rapidly rose to Retail Advertising
Manager. She went on to be publisher of the Orange Coast Daily
Pilot, Costa Mesa, CA; the Salinas Californian, Salinas, CA
(Gannett); The Courier News, Bridgewater, NJ (Gannett); the
Steubenville, OH/Weirton, WVA Strategic Marketing Group (Thompson
Newspapers); East Valley Tribune, Mesa/Scottsdale, AZ (Thompson
Newspapers and later Freedom Communications). Karen received her
B.A. Journalism from Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.

Her civic affiliations included East Valley Partnership Board of
Directors (past Chair); Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce Board of
Directors (past chair); Scottsdale Cultural Council Board of
Directors; Walter Cronkite Telecommunications & Journalism/ASU-
Trustee; Arizona Town Hall Board of Directors; Greater Phoenix
Leadership Board of Directors; ASU Research Park Board of Trustees.
Since early 2001 Karen and Lou split their time and residency
between Scottsdale, Cornville, AZ and Alexandria Bay, NY. Services
will be private.

Should any wish to donate to a charity they may to: Northern Arizona
Hospice, 203 S. Candy Lane, Suite 10A, Cottonwood,AZ 86326

An online obituary is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com.

Information provided by survivors.




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