Daughter of Carl’s Jr. Founder Dies of Post-Surgery Problems

A daughter of Carl’s Jr. fast-food restaurants chain founder Carl N. Karcher has died of complications following bladder surgery, a family representative said Friday.

Carleen Karcher, a 45-year-old mother of six, checked into St. Joseph Hospital in Orange on Tuesday for afternoon surgery and seemed to be recovering well but her condition worsened two days later, family spokeswoman Patty Parks said. She died about 8:45 p.m. Thursday.

Carleen Karcher was the fourth of 12 children of Carl and Margaret Karcher of Anaheim.

Friday’s autopsy showed the cause of death to be a massive pulmonary embolism, defined as the closure of the lung artery or one of its branches, Parks said.

“It was very sudden. It was the kind of rare occurrence that is just a risk when you have major surgery,” she said.

Carleen Karcher, who lived in San Clemente, had been expected to be released from the hospital Friday after surgery on her bladder muscles, common to women who have borne children.

At the time of her death, her 76-year-old father was in Washington for the annual Horatio Alger awards dinner. He flew home Friday morning to be with the family.

Carl Karcher said in a statement released Friday: “We will all miss Carleen. She was a sweetheart. God will welcome her with open arms.”

In addition to her parents, Carleen Karcher is survived by her six children: Michele Willard, 25; Tracy Willard, 21; Jerrot Willard, 20; Nicole Willard, 19; Bradley Willard, 16, and Carlie Willard, 14. She is also survived by her eight sisters and three brothers. She was divorced about seven years ago, Parks said.

A rosary will be said at 3 p.m. Sunday at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church, 2046 Mar Vista Drive, Newport Beach.

Funeral services at the same church are scheduled at 10 a.m. Monday. Burial will follow at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, 7845 Santiago Canyon Road, Orange.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be given to the Mercy House Transitional Living Center, P.O. Box 1905, Santa Ana, Calif. 92702. The Mercy House is a transitional residence for the homeless.