Karen Susan Zupko

with your one wild and precious life?”

---Mary Oliver

It is with immense sadness that the community of Jamestown announces the passing of one of our own, Karen Zupko. Karen, who most remember as “just always here,” moved to our little mountain town sometime in the late 70s and lived her wild and precious life with us for almost 50 years. Karen was a lover of animals and of good food, a loyal friend, a fierce advocate for wild places, and a woman who was generous beyond imagination. Around town, Karen, known by some as the “dog lady;” knew the name of every Jamestown dog and cat well before the names of their owners, and often carried treats to distribute on walks with her dog (first Sophia, then Sandy and Maggie, and finally Diana). In the aftermath of the 2013 Jamestown flood, Karen, who lost her beloved cabin on James Creek, stayed in town during the long months before water and electricity were restored, to care for pets who were not able to be evacuated. Before retiring, she routinely rescued stray cats at Boulder’s wastewater treatment plant where she worked, often paying for their vet care or to get them spayed or neutered and then either adopting them or finding them good homes. Her cat family included Tootsie, Tata, Beanie, Marble, and FunZ.

Karen was a true loner: cantankerous, sharp, fiery, independent, and fierce, but also never alone; she was intensely loyal, loved by so many, and a tender friend. Karen lived a big life and loved the red rock desert of Utah and the Colorado mountains, her Toyota pickup trucks, books, Ed’s Chili Beer, a good red wine, summer petunias in her window boxes, camping with her dog, off-the-beaten path and dog-friendly B&Bs, having breakfast at the Jamestown Merc, getting her daily latte from any number of coffee shops along the Front Range, and visiting animals at the Humane Society. Her good works were numerous: she hosted a niece and a nephew for summers at her cabin, getting them jobs or paying for tutors to help with school, and helped friends with vet bills, plane tickets, or the purchase of a much-needed items (winter tires, a washing machine, a new used car). She once sold peeks of a photo of herself as a Novice (one of her previous lives) to benefit a friend who’d lost her house to fire. Her generosity extended to strangers as well, particularly those in need who had pets that required food or care. Karen did all of this with a modest income and a big heart.

Karen backpacked and hiked all over the West and had a family of friends scattered from Colorado to Montana and Wisconsin, but we feel her passing acutely and we grieve for one who was part of us. Karen is survived by her pet companions Diana and FunZ, two brothers, David (Kathy) Zupko and Dennis (Elana) Zupko, 4 nephews and 8 nieces, as well as so many among us who formed her mountain family in Jamestown and who will miss her dearly.

A Celebration of Life will be in the spring in Jamestown.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cristmortuary.com for the Zupko family.