Karen Louise Traub (83) passed away peacefully at her home in Port Angeles Washington on Thursday August 14, 2025.
Karen is survived by her husband of 64 years, James (Jim) Traub, children Michael (Mike) Traub of Friday Harbor, Michelle (Mickey) Branham of Port Angeles and their families. She also has a brother Bob Meinke of Colorado and his family. Karen cherished her 2 grandchildren Chaya Lambright and David Branham, and three great grandchildren Colt Lambright, Raylee Branham and Finley Branham.
Karen lived in Friday Harbor for nearly thirty years. Along with her family and lifelong friends, she will be remembered by many local families as the beloved Friday Harbor Elementary school librarian, (I Love to Read Month, the reading whale and matching children with just the right book) and an active member of the San Juan Island community. She was an amazing person; so very kind, caring and creative. Karen’s passions were quilting, reading and traveling.
Karen was born in Elyria, Ohio on November 30, 1941 to Clarence and Mildred Meinke. She grew up in Lorain, Ohio with her brother and many cousins. It was there, she met her lifelong sweetheart in high school, Jim Traub. They both attended college in Ohio and married shortly after Jim’s service in the U.S. Coast Guard. In 1968 they moved to Golden, Colorado to raise their young family. Karen worked as a school librarian and Jim was a dentist.
As Mike and Mickey set off for adulthood, Karen and Jim retired for the “first time” and began exploring the Pacific Northwest. This is when they fell in love with the San Juan Islands. They spent every summer on their sailboat, Kapu II, cruising the Inside Passage and Southeast Alaska.
They moved to Friday Harbor around 1981 and put down roots. Karen worked at Friday Harbor Elementary as a librarian and volunteered in the community. Jim did the same, building custom homes, volunteering for Friday Harbor Fire Department, EMTs and local school bus driver. They eventually designed and built a home on the West Side of San Juan Island where they lived until 2009.
After retiring a “second time” Karen and Jim both wanted to be closer to their daughter, Mickey, son-in-law, Tim and their two grandchildren, Chaya and David. They moved to their beautiful home in Port Angeles. Having hung up their captain’s hats, Karen and Jim soon traded in their boat for an RV and set out exploring the US and all its splendor at National and State Parks. They snow-birded the winter months in Florida where they also had family and friends.
In 2020, Karen and Jim came back full time to Port Angeles to enjoy life that now included great grandchildren. Karen continued to quilt, craft, garden and explore the Olympic Peninsula.
Karen’s life was filled with many years of wonderful memories. If you would like, reach out and share photos or memories to her dear friend, Nan Simpson you can at froglanding@mac.com or her daughter Mickey Branham at nwrunner46@gmail.com or 882 Patterson Rd Port Angeles, WA 98362.
Karen was much loved and will be deeply missed by everyone who was a part of her life, especially her best friend and daughter, Mickey.
If you would like to make a donation in her memory, please give to the Friday Harbor Elementary School Library or buy yourself a good book and read it in remembrance of her, that would make her very happy!
Mike and Amy still live in Friday Harbor. They welcome guests or shares.