Karen Kempel Jones, 64, known and admired by people throughout the state, passed away quietly on Thursday, March 27, 2008, at her home, 211 Rimrock Way, Missoula. She had been surrounded these last weeks by relatives and friends. As she passed, she was warm, quiet and at peace, with her small Maltese and Yorkie puppies, Princess and Peanut, both snuggled on her bed, in a quilt autographed by friends and relatives. Her life touched so many that she will be long remembered as a person who cared and made a difference.
Karen, Joined the Rotary club of Missoula in 1989. Her husband Bill and stepson Tate are also members. Karen was awarded a Paul Harris this last year from Dan Lambros for her dedication and service to Rotary and other great causes. Below is information from the Missoulian about Karen. She will be missed by all.
This note from her children epitomized the thoughts of many.
"It wasn't until our Mother died that we truly understood what the meaning of 'fighting a courageous battle with cancer' really meant. Those words describe exactly how our mom lived the past 2 1/2 years while battling ovarian cancer. With courage, bravery, dignity, pride and overall determination, she held her head high and refused to let this disease compromise or change her spirit. Throughout this journey, she taught us more about how to live and how to love each other. Through her struggle, we have learned that life and time are precious and should not be wasted or taken for granted. Although the battle is over, her memory and spirit live on in all the lives she has touched. We are so proud and honored to have had her as a Mother and so very sad to have lost her. We feel comforted as she watches over us and our families as well as every soul she has ever loved. God's speed, Mom ... drive fast and take chances."
Karen was born Oct. 21, 1943, in Butte and moved to Missoula shortly thereafter. Her father and many of her family members worked for what is now known as Pacific Steel and Recycling. During her early years and during her first marriage she lived in various homes in the Rattlesnake Valley.
After graduating from the Sacred Heart Academy girls' school in 1961, she attended the University of Montana.
On Jan. 5, 1963, she married H. Rodney Kempel of Minot, N.D., and two children were born, Michelle in 1964 and Michael in 1966. Her life forever after centered around her children and grandchildren. There was never any question about the children being the prime priority in life.
As her children matured, she began working outside the home, first at Gull Ski, where she used her skiing experience to outfit many of her friends and acquaintances. Her years of downhill skiing and her professional training in Kitzbuhel, Austria, stood her in good stead to start many young people and adults with good habits in competitive skiing.
The Lambros brothers, Danny and George, became her mentors in her true calling in life. They recognized she was the ultimate "people person" to list and sell residential homes. Soon she was known as a Realtor who not only accomplished the business tasks, but more important to her, she soon had another friend who was treated almost as family. Over her 25 years in the business community she not only won numerous awards such as top producer, residential Realtor of the year, etc., but to her, the greatest reward was meeting new people and having another friend for life.
Karen remarried on Sept. 16, 1989, to William Evan Jones, a partner in the Garlington, Lohn & Robinson law firm. They enjoyed a quiet life punctuated by special entertaining, usually on the mornings before Grizzly football games. Karen orchestrated the details of backyard brunches for 100 to 200 guests and culminated these entertaining efforts by a morning brunch on Sept. 17, 2005, at the University Center for 700 friends in honor of Greek Americans who attended the University in mid-century.
During the last 20 years of her life, she became extremely active in helping nonprofit community organizations achieve their goals. Her work with the Missoula Children's Theatre, Ronald McDonald House, UM Excellence Foundation, Missoula Rotary Club and numerous other Missoula groups was legendary. In honor of the gifts of her time for community betterment, she was given the coveted "George" award at the autumn 2007 Missoula Chamber of Commerce banquet before 650 friends. She exemplified the purpose of the award by not letting "George" do the work she could and did do in the community.
Karen and her husband Bill dedicated their lives together more to work than to play, but they did take time to smell the roses. Nearly every year they traveled to New York City to attend Broadway musicals and New York Yankees games. In 2002, they took a long-awaited vacation in Paris and western Europe to tour World War II memorials in the Normandy area. They then went to London and Wales, where they visited the Snowden Mountains of Anthony Hopkins fame and found the monument in Dolwyddelan, Wales, commemorating Bill's forebears' emigration to Cambria, Wis., in 1846. They also spent much time arranging and participating in weekend tours of up to 50 people to visit the Little Bighorn Battlefield and the World Famous Bucking Horse Sale and parade in Miles City.
Karen is survived by her beloved husband Bill, Missoula; her daughter Michelle and husband Paul Rich, Portland, Ore.; and Michelle's two children, Allison and Zachary; and her son, Michael Kempel and wife Heidi, Helena, and their two children, Oliver and Griffin. Her surviving brother and sisters are Henry (Eilene) Buescher of Pocatello, Idaho, John (Alice) Buescher of Newburgh, N.Y., Sarah (Jerry) Ellis of Nampa, Idaho, Barbara Buescher of Missoula, Theodore (Jennifer) Buescher of Spokane, Barlow (Karen Johnson) Buescher of Tacoma, Wash., Karl (Kathleen) Buescher of Spokane, Madeline Buescher (James O'Leary) of Spokane and Mark Buescher (Janis Gerards) of Spokane. She is survived by her stepchildren Tate Jones of Missoula; Gwen Jones (Andrew Koenig) and their children Chase, Kate and Rex, of Missoula; and Reid (Crystal) Jones, and their children Shayla and Liam, of Missoula.
In lieu of flowers, Karen has requested that donations may be made to the "Retire the Mortgage Fund," at the Missoula Children's Theatre in care of Don Collins, 200 Adams St., Missoula, MT 59802.