Karen Pinkstaff

1934 - 2025

Karen Pinkstaff

July 13, 1934 - October 17, 2025

Oxnard, California - Karen Karla Pinkstaff (née Kienow) went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on October 17, 2025, in Oxnard, California, at the age of 91. Her life was marked by steadfast faith, a deep commitment to education, and compassionate service to others.

Born on July 13, 1934, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Karen was raised in the Lutheran Church-a spiritual foundation that remained central throughout her life. She attended Valparaiso University in Indiana, where she met her future husband, Thomas Lee Pinkstaff. The couple later transferred to the University of Arizona in Tucson. They married in 1955 and graduated before beginning their shared 50 year life journey.

Karen began her teaching career in Tucson and continued it in New Jersey after Tom accepted a position with RCA. When they moved to Southern California, she taught grades 3 through 6 at Hart Street Elementary School and later served as Dropout Prevention Coordinator at Christopher Columbus Middle School in Canoga Park. She was known for reaching out to students facing hardship and offering them and their family's encouragement and support.

A devoted wife and mother, Karen took time away from her career to raise their daughters Rhondi and Robin before returning to education with renewed purpose. She cherished family traditions and ensured that shared meals and time and traveling together remained a priority.

Her faith guided every aspect of her life. Karen was an active member of Canoga Park Lutheran Church and School, Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Granada Hills - where she developed their first preschool program, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Atascadero, and most recently St. John's Lutheran Church in Oxnard. Singing in the choir with Tom and playing handbells brought her great joy.

We're forever grateful to her caregivers at Oakmont, Grace Living, and Buena Vista Hospice.

Karen will be missed by many. May her memory bring comfort to those who knew her and continue to inspire lives of kindness and faith.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents Margaret Pleadwell and Orwald Kienow; her husband Tom; sister Margie Barrales (Joe); brother Paul Kienow; brother in- law Max Pinkstaff (Janie); sister-in-law Peggy Crozier (Bud); nieces Jennifer Hopkins, Jenny Crozier and nephew Ricky Pinkstaff. She is survived by: her brother Ken Kienow (Eleanor); sister-in-law Penny Kienow; daughters Rhondi Durand (Wayne) and Robin Rose (Mark); grandchildren Carrie Carrizales, Ryan Mitchell (Danie), Taylor Rose (Emilee), Tanner Rose; and great-grandchildren; Trey and Kennedy Carrizales, Duke Mitchell, and Rustin Rose. She is also survived by her 104-year-old Aunt Ruthie Werning; cousins Charlotte Kolby (Ken), Sharon Dykema (Jim) and Judy Kennedy (Jim), Julie Woodworth (Woody); nephew Karl Kienow (Jill), Steven Crozier (Robin), Steven Hopkins (Eve); nieces Kathy Giovannetti (Gary), Judy Pence (John), Sara Di Luna (John), Hana Kossak (Nate), Karen Thompson (Tommy), Annette Waggoner (Charlie), and Joyce Cook (Mark).

A Celebration of her Life will be held on December 13, 2025, at 10:00 AM at St. John's Lutheran Church, 1500 N C Street, Oxnard, California.