Karleen Jo Neumann, 71

Karleen Jo Neumann, 71, passed away peacefully to Heaven and her forever camping trip on Feb. 14, 2022. She was born March 24, 1950, in Hackensack, New Jersey, the daughter of Louis and Jean Neumann.

Karleen's mother had contracted polio during pregnancy and she was born a little fighter weighing 3 and 1/2 pounds. She moved to a farm outside of Clark Fork, Idaho, with her family when she was 7 years old and later graduated from Clark Fork High School.

She always remembered the good times she had horseback riding with her father, sometimes up high in the mountains to a forest fire lookout station. Besides being a lover of horses, she enjoyed cowboy memorabilia, Indian dolls and pottery.

Later in life, Karleen became something of the "Martha Stewart camping queen." Whether dry or wet camping, her van was tricked out with burgundy pillowcase curtains, a bed, microwave, and TV, with everything else tucked neatly away. Of course there was a firewood back rack. If she slowed down, there was a second-hand store nearby.

She enjoyed soaking in hot mineral springs in Montana, and was accomplished at beading, crochet, cooking great meals and cupcakes and peanut brittle. She will be missed most of all by her best friend, neighbor and sister, Kathy Neumann, who referred to her as a little firecracker in a small package: "the sarge in control.”

She is survived by her sister, Kathy; and daughters, Heather and Krystie; and three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life potluck meal will be held this summer at the Clark Fork Senior Center.

Family and friends are invited to sign Jan’s online guest book at coffeltfuneral.com.

Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.