Karen Wittmer Jekel, 65, passed away on December 2, 2017. She received her B.A. Journalism from Wayne State University, Detroit, MI. Karen was nationally known for her pioneering leadership in the newspaper industry. 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; The Courier News, Bridgewater, NJ; the Steubenville, OH/Weirton, WVA Strategic Marketing Group; East Valley Tribune, Mesa/Scottsdale, AZ. 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. Karen is survived by her husband Lou Jekel, her mother, two brothers and a sister as well as numerous nieces and nephews. 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. (Source: Arizona Republic)