A gathering for family and friends will be held on Friday, April 2, 2010 from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at Cron-Sheehy Funeral Home Chapel.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, 20612 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, Ca. 92651 ( a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of marine life).


MICHAEL LEE KARPEN, 49 of Gilbert passed away in Phoenix, AZ on March 6, 2010 of a heart attack on his return home to get ready for 2010’s paving season.

Michael was born September 12, 1960 in Virginia, Mn. to Mac & Judy Karpen.

Michael grew up in Eveleth and was a graduate of Eveleth High School in 1978; he currently was the owner and operator of Gilbert Blacktop Company in which he whole heartedly dedicated all his energies to during its operating seasons. Michael had also worked for Minnesota Explosives and in the construction field in California for many years previous.

Michael was a member of Eshquaguma Country Club, Society of Explosive Engineers, a donor to a host of non-profit organizations. Michael loved his cabin on Lake Eshquaguma, spending his winters in California with Jean and looked forward to all the trips she would plan for them – his favorite was spending Christmas in New York each year. He loved to watch the latest movies released and critique them; in which we always asked his opinion about. Michael enjoyed a good game of cribbage or smear to see who would have to buy dinner, his real passion was to golf as much as he could especially with his Brother Mark, Uncle Mark and Ricky “Pickle” Bennett. Michael was a generous, caring and very devoted family person, had a heart of gold and a sense of humor like no other.

Michael is survived by the love of his life Jean Leuenberger of Riverside, CA, his daughter Jaime (TJ) Elder and their son Jack of Williamstown, MA, his mother, Judy (Warren Digerness) Karpen of Eveleth, sister, Kym (David) Drain of Gilbert, brother, Mark A. Karpen of Eveleth and his very special Uncle Mark S. Karpen of Duluth, numerous friends, uncles, aunts and cousins. To say Michael will be greatly missed seems so trite; to say our hearts have been broken feels so real.

Michael was preceded in death by his father, Mac A. Karpen on August 28, 1994.