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Karen Joy (Warmbold) Eakes
Karen Joy Warmbold-Eakes, beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother and friend passed away peacefully on July 5, 2016 after succumbing to her 2nd bout with cancer. Born on Oct 20, 1942 in Oak Park, IL, Karen grew up in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. She attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor graduating in 1964 with a degree in Education. Karen immediately set off on her first big adventure for Monterey, CA where she began her teaching career and met the love of her life, Jim “Ike” Eakes, a military officer stationed at Fort Ord, CA. The couple married in 1967 and the very next day set off to begin their life in Southeast Alaska. For 2 years Karen taught elementary school in a logging camp on Tuxican Island where Jim worked for the Ketchikan Pulp Company. In 1970 they moved to El Capitan on Prince of Wales Island and in 1973 to Ketchikan where Karen soon after accepted a teaching position at Valley Park Elementry. She worked at Valley Park for 23 years until her retirement in 1998. A lifetime educator and perpetual student, Karen’s career in education did not end with her retirement and in 1999 Karen began her studies in brain based learning at California State University in San Bernardino, CA. Upon obtaining her Masters’ Degree Karen returned to Ketchikan where she taught courses at the University of Alaska Southeast and was instrumental in the founding of the Tongass Charter School. Karen was also heavily involved in education outside the classroom and was elected for two terms on the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School Board, (2006 - 2009), serving one term as Chairman. Karen also served as president of the Ketchikan Education Assoc. for several years. Her love of the Ketchikan community and desire to make a difference in the lives of others also led her to accept the position of Director of Patchworks where she worked for two years before she and Jim finally entered their bona fide retirement. Although Karen loved Ketchikan, in 2012 she and Jim began splitting their time between Ketchikan and a home in San Carlos, Sonora Mexico. She developed strong connections in that community as well embracing new interests including horseback riding, bridge clubs, book clubs, and promoting educational lectures at the San Carlos Yacht Club. In Ketchikan she and Jim enjoyed spending time with friends and family, being on their boat Gracious Lady, and in their home on upper Main Street. While her friends and loved ones will miss her dearly, Karen led an exceptionally full life and for that we are thankful.
Karen is survived by her husband Jim of 49 years; Daughter Laura Eakes and her friend Tim Berntson and Granddaughters Rachel and Ivy; Jenny Eakes and Husband Michael Campbell and Granddaughter Nuala Campbell; Karen’s surviving siblings and relatives Joan Warmbold of Glenview, IL, Barbara Boese of Greencastle, IN, Rick Warmbold and wife Cristy Rafn of Lake Forest, IL; and Brother-in-Law Martin Ringel of San Francisco, CA; and their extended families.
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Penelope L. Distin (VanGinderdeuren)
Karen has been a dear friend since second grade. She was a wonderful, honest, loving friend...always optimistic. My last text from her was shortly before she returned to Alaska...looking forward to her doctors finding another trial to try. She did not complain but said she was very tired. She accomplished many things and was always looking for new goals to reach. I will miss her very much...she will always be in my heart.
Alix Adams (Wilkerson)
I think of Karen as kind and gentle and remember the fun times we had growing up. Living in Juneau and Karen living in Ketchikan i always considered her my neighbor. My prayers go out to her and her family.
Joan E. Kasabach (Swain)
I'm so sorry to learn of Karen's passing. While we were not necessarily close in high school, there was a warmth about her that was very appealing. While we connected only briefly @ a couple reunions, I reached out to meet with her while in Alaska in 2014. Our time together in Ketchikan was as delightful as if we had been good friends prior. I knew of some illness, but she was reportedly regaining strength. What a sweet - and talented - classmate. Sooooo glad we connected. I know you'll rest in peace. Condolences to all who were close.
Francis H. Whitton Jr.
Karen was a loving sweet person. We were together in both high school and college and fell out of touch after that.My picture of her is that she grew up never doing anything wrong and if she did and she was punished she would never do it again. I have to say I didn't fit in that category.
One day in a previous chapter of my life I decided I would take my boat from San Diego to Alaska. I shipped it to Seattle then proceeded up the Marine Highway to Southeast Alaska. It was quite an adventure ending in Ketchikan (The first port after leaving the U.S).. The first night we were there we went out to dinner to celebrate our successful trip. We were having cocktails and dinner in a very fancy restaurant in Ketchikan and being waited on by a beautiful blonde young waitress I thought to myself I know somebody in Alaska. Karen Warmbold is up here somewhere. I had another drink and was feeling no pain. I looked up and a couple was just leaving and passed by my table. The lady was looking at me in a funny way and I thought to myself that sure looks like Karen. That can't be her and I've had one too many cocktails. When the couple got to the door the lady turns around and comes back. She says "Are you Frank Whitton"and I reply "Karen I can't believe it's you". We had a great visit and I was going to spend one summer in Southeast Alaska. It was so majestic and beautiful I left my boat there for five summers and went up each summer and headed off in a different direction exploring the wonders of Southeast Alaska. My home port was Ketchikan so I had many visits with Karen and her husband Jim. The two were made for each other and they were living a wonderful life in Ketchikan.
I will miss Karen and may she rest in peace. I believe we will all be together again. Some of us sooner and most of you later. Incidentally, that beautiful blonde waitress was Karen's daughter. She went on to become a Radio City Music Hall Rockett.
Sally E. Marsh (Giacobbe)
We sort of connected at the reunions. We never got together after the party but we had some good talks during the reunion. She had a beautiful spirit that you could actually feel when you were with her. I'm sorry to hear of her passing but glad she is out of her pain. Sally Marsh Giacobbe
Patricia L. Hagland (Whitledge)
Karen's obituary did not provide for making contributions in her honor. The following information was forwarded to me by Karen's sister, Joan:
From: Joan Warmbold Boggs Email: jwarmbol@oakton.edu
We wish to inform those who knew and loved Karen that one of the best ways to honor her life would be to send a contribution to the charity she gave her heart and soul to during her last four decades, the Ketchikan Wellness Foundation. It's website is: http://www.ktnkwc.org/ You can send your contribution to KWF, 602 Dock Street, Suite 108, Ketchikan, AL. 99901. She cared so deeply about so many of you. Our best wishes, Barb, Rick and Joan Warmbold.
Lanier Gray (Harrison)
No words can describle how much I, and all of her WOW have missed her.
Peggy Jeffs (Fahnestock)
Lanier, thank you for reminding me of how essential she was to the WOW (Women of Walloon). Despite her ongoing health battles, she was always cheerful, warm and occasionally very silly. I miss her dearly.
Francis H. Whitton Jr.
I saw Karen and Jim on a number of occasions when I kept a boat in Ketchikan. She and Jim were a wonderful couple and they had two daughters. One danced for the New York Rockettes. I took a boat from San Diego to Alaska (it was trucked from San Diego to Seattle) I kept it there five years and went up every summer to head off in a different direction. Magnificent scenery, it's climate was like Seattle it very seldom would freeze at sea level. You can only get to Ketchikan by boat or by plane.