Karol

Karolyn (Karol) M. Patzer January 23,1946 - December 28, 2018 Karol Patzer, age 72, passed away Friday, December 28, 2018, at The Pillars Hospice Care Center. She was born January 23, 1946, to Mike and Bertha Gurgacz in New Castle, Pennsylvania. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. Karol chose to live her life by this motto even after being diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in January 2016. She was a loving mother, an avid motorcyclist, a world traveler, a bird lover, a willing volunteer, and an outdoor enthusiast. It didn’t matter where Karol was her smile and positive attitude made an impact on everyone she met. Early in her life, Karol developed a passion for motorcycles. As a Motorcycle Safety Instructor, she aided and mentored many new riders, and shared her passion for motorcycling with them. She was a member of multiple motorcycle organizations, held numerous volunteer roles, and for 25 years was chairperson for the BMW MOA International Rally Charity, where she helped raise money for numerous charities. Karol was well respected and loved throughout the motorcycling community. In September 1986, Karol met the love of her life, Jerry, at the Wisconsin Dells BMW motorcycle rally. For the next 32 years they were nearly inseparable as they shared many interests and loved traveling the country. Be it on two or four wheels, they camped along the way. Karol and Jerry made several trips to Mexico, and shared many adventures south of the border. Their motto was “toes in the sand”. Karol’s adventurous nature showed through in her travels, including Africa, and as she rode in long-distance motorcycle rallies. She proudly finished four, eleven-day “Iron Butt” rallies on her BMW K75. Karol had an inner strength and showed determination throughout her life. At age 55, she quit her job to pursue her dream of completing 55,000 miles on her motorcycle in one year. In June 2017, when she and Jerry rode in Alaska, Karol completed her goal of riding a motorcycle in all 50 states. After retiring, Karol was able to share her passion and knowledge of birds with others by volunteering at the MN Raptor Center, MN Zoo, and by working part-time at her favorite bird store. Karol was loved, and will be greatly missed, by many friends and her family. She is survived by her life partner, Jerry; three sons, Tony (Amy) DeLorenzo, Brian (Katherine) DeLorenzo, and Mark (fiancé Nickole) DeLorenzo. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mike and Bertha Gurgacz, and her sister, Patricia Knight. Karol’s life will be honored at two events. A Memorial Service will be held at Washburn-McCreavy Funeral Chapel at 5000 West 50th St in Edina, MN on Saturday, February 2, 2019. The visitation for Karol will be held from 2-4 PM followed by a service at 4 PM. The family is also planning a celebration of life T.B.D. in spring. This will enable her motorcycling family, and other friends to meet and share stories about Karol’s spirit and zest for life. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Karol’s honor to the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MOCA). “Ride hard, go far, keep smiling” - Karol Patzer

Tributes

Karol

January 23, 1946 - December 28, 2018

Tributes

Karol

January 23, 1946 - December 28, 2018

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