Margaret (Heinz) Karcher, the wife of Carl’s Jr. founder Carl N. Karcher, died Tuesday at 91 from liver cancer.
Along with her husband, Margaret Karcher was an Anaheim icon. She and her 14 brothers and sisters were raised on an orange grove that was developed into the onetime headquarters of CKE Restaurants Inc. and which still houses a Carl’s Jr. warehouse and offices.
The Carpinteria-based company and retired founder Carl Karcher, who owns the land, are debating redevelopment plans for the site.
The Karchers started their business in 1941 after borrowing $311 on their Plymouth and throwing in $15 from Margaret Karcher’s purse to buy a hot dog cart in Los Angeles.
In 1945, the Karchers moved to Anaheim, near Margaret Karcher’s family home, and opened Carl’s Drive-In Barbeque, which grew into Carl’s Jr.
She served on the board of Carl Karcher Enterprises Inc., which runs several Carl’s Jr. franchises. Margaret Karcher also was as a member of the Anaheim Women’s Chamber of Commerce, the Orange County Performing Arts Center and other groups.
Even after the Karchers grew successful, they kept their modest home in Anaheim near the company’s former headquarters.
Margaret Karcher was born in 1915 in Wisconsin. She and Carl Karcher married in 1939. The couple had 12 children (including one who died) and 51 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren.
Margaret Karcher died in Scottsdale. A service for her is set for June 14 and 15 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Anaheim. She’s set to be buried at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Orange.
