08/25/2026
It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Store Manager, Karen Jean, this past Friday.
Although Karen joined the Petzold’s family in 2023, it didn’t take long for her to make a lasting impact on all of us. Karen truly loved coming to work, and she brought a smile and positive attitude with her every day. She was an incredibly hard worker, someone you could always count on, and a coworker who quickly became a dear friend.
Karen also had a way of taking care of everyone around her. She spoiled us with muffins, candy, and little treats, and always made sure the store—and all of us—were taken care of. In true Karen fashion, she didn’t miss a single day of work due to illness until her recent illness this past month. Her dedication and work ethic were something we all admired.
Outside of work, Karen enjoyed eating healthy, taking long walks, reading, and, of course, candles.
Long before Karen became part of our team, she spent 28 years running Riverside Marina, where she built countless friendships and relationships within the boating community. When she came to Petzold’s, those relationships came right along with her. So many of her longtime friends and customers would stop into our store simply to visit Karen—a true testament to the kind of person she was and how many lives she touched.
Everyone loved Karen, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have had her as part of our Petzold’s family, even though our time with her was far too short.
We will miss her smile, her treats, her dependability, her friendship, and simply seeing her behind the counter every day. Karen loved decorating the store for the holidays, and she would be disappointed to know that we haven’t decorated for Halloween yet.
We promise to do our best to keep the store up to her standards.
We will miss you dearly, Karen.
