James Karaus, 81, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

James Edward Karaus, age 81, of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., passed away on Oct. 16, 2025.

He was born in Owatonna, to James and Evelyn Karaus, on July 28, 1944, and grew up in the Ellendale, area. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Lemond Township. He graduated from the Southern School of Agriculture, Waseca, in 1963.

Jim served in the U.S. Navy on the USS Hancock as an electrician from January 1964 to December 1967. He did three tours in Vietnam and the South China Sea.

Jim devoted a lot to his career and traveled around the US and parts of the world for it. He worked a short time for the Owatonna Municipal Power Plant and Northwest Orient Airlines and then in 1970 his employment concentrated more on companies that had large equipment, including cranes. He worked at Tel-E-lect, Brown & Root Fab Yard, Hertz Crane Rental, Construction Equipment International, Dayton Scott Equipment but he mainly worked for Manitowoc Cranes.

When he retired, he moved to Lake Havasu City. He arrived there October 16, 2005. In 2007, he started working at the Lake Havasu City Marina doing maintenance and various jobs. He worked there for about 10 years and gained many friends there. He was also able to slip his pontoon that he set up for fishing there and spent much time out on the water. He purchased a home with a yard that would work for building a large garage in the back yard. In that garage he accumulated all the things he needed to tinker with all the various cars, watercraft, golf carts, etc., that he purchased and sold or worked on for others.

He is survived by sister-in-law, Judy Karaus; brother-in-law, Eddie Winzenburg; nieces and nephews: Jeff (Jess) Larson, Julie (Jeff) Perkins, Cindy (Randy) Rysavy, Jodie (Rich) Swearingen, Dean Larson and Eric Winzenburg and his extended family.

He was proceeded in death by his parents and siblings: Janet Sargent, Jerry Karaus and Jackie Winzenburg.

Jimmy will eventually have his ashes buried at sea from a navy vessel, per his request.