MAY 15, 1948 – AUGUST 15, 2023
Karen Jo (KJ) Maule, age 75 of Greenville, Ohio passed away at 7:19 PM Tuesday August 15, 2023 at Miami Valley Hospital Dayton, Ohio. Karen was born in Darke County, Ohio on May 15, 1948 to Thelma Jean (Leap) Maule and Joseph Robert Maule, both originally from Richmond, Indiana. Karen’s family spent her early years on a small farm south of New Madison. When she was in high school, her parents sold the farm and moved into town. Karen graduated from New Madison High School in 1966.
Karen Jo was preceded in death by her parents, her great-nephew Jacob Reeder, her brother Don Maule and his long-time companion Jean Craft. She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law Diana (Tim) Reeder of Greenville, Ohio; nieces Vickie (Jeff) Wessling of Greenville, Ohio; Kim (Bernie) Buckle of Gresham, Oregon; Heidi Sullivan and Brett of Asheville, North Carolina; nephew Todd (Rita) Reeder of Fishers, Indiana; 5 great nephews, 2 great nieces, several great great nephews, 2 great great nieces, her first cousin Jerry (Norma) Maule of Richmond, Indiana and her 2 very best friends Jana Deubner of Greenville and Paula Worden of Sidney, Ohio.
In her senior year of high school, Karen Jo worked at Frisch’s Restaurant on Wagner Avenue in Greenville. She worked at the Ballinger Lumber Company in 1978-1979. Karen Jo was later employed by the City of Greenville for 32 years, retiring December 31, 2012. She started her career with the City in December 1980 as Secretary at the Greenville Fire Department, for 18 ½ years. She then transferred to the Utilities Office, for 13 ½ years, working first as a clerk at the drive-up window (a job that she absolutely loved) and eventually becoming the Office Manager. Karen Jo had many stories about her years working for the City, most of them very funny.
KJ was, at one time, a member and Ladies Auxiliary officer of one of the fraternal social organizations in Greenville, and thoroughly enjoyed the socializing entailed with that. Plus a few long-term friendships developed that she appreciated over the years. KJ also had a lot of stories about this time in her life.
Karen Jo loved spending time with family and friends. She was an avid reader, with a collection of around 750 books. She loved going to movies and going out to different restaurants. She loved music. Karen just loved going to a lot of small concerts in the Miami Valley area with Diana and Tim. Karen was a huge Neil Diamond fan and saw him in concert twice; and also Prince in concert once. She also went to several other big-name music concerts. She liked to travel. Her brother Don and she once went on a 3-week driving excursion of the U.S., going across the lower southern states then up the west coast and back across the Midwestern states, stopping all along the way to view the sights. Karen loved that trip! Karen Jo also volunteered at the Darke County Parks Shawnee Prairie Preserve Nature Center and loved all the people there.
A Celebration of Karen Jo’s life at Zechar Bailey Funeral Home Greenville, Ohio will be announced at a later date.
It is KJ’s wishes that Memorial Contributions be given to the Darke County Park District, PO Box 801, 4267 State Route 502, Greenville, Ohio, 45331.