(Bobbe) Karman

Moline, Illinois
Quad-Cities Entrepreneur and Business Woman Roberta Jane Karman, 81 of Waterloo, Iowa, formerly of Moline, Illinois, died Thursday night January 25, 2007, in her home.
Services are 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Celebration of Life Chapel at Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, Moline. Burial is in Moline Memorial Park. Visitation is 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, with a Trisagion Service at 7 p.m. Monday. Memorials may be made to a charity or organization of your choice.
She was born in Macomb, Illinois, on August 15, 1925, the only child of William Lee and Mae Bolon Alexander. She married Chris J. Karman on July 24, 1943.
Bobbe lived in Rock Island for many years and was a true entrepreneur and Quad-Cities business woman. In 1970, she co-founded and was President of United Personnel, Inc. Together with her partner Stormy McCarthy, they expanded their business to include Marketing Unlimited, Marketing Unlimited Modeling Agency and Marketing Unlimited School of Modeling. They maintained their business for over 32 years, retiring in 2002. She was a longstanding member of the Illinois?Quad City Chamber of Commerce, served on the board of directors and numerous committees, and was named Woman of the Year in Small Business by Blackhawk College. She was a former member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church.
Bobbe was a devoted mother and grandmother and served as a role model to her family and countless others. She took great pride in the accomplishments of her children, their spouses and her grandchildren. She was a descendant of pilgrims John and Priscilla Alden and was a proud member of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants and Alden Kindred of America.
She is survived by her daughter Karen and husband Peter J. Gartelos, Waterloo, IA, her son James and wife Paula Karman, Chico, CA, her son Tony and wife Sondra Karman, Chicago, her grandchildren, Angela, James, Catharine and Christopher and wife Renee Gartelos and her great grand daughter Ava Gartelos.
Bobbe?s family invites friends to express condolences, share a story about Bobbe or light a candle in her memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.