Karen S. Matthews

July 16, 1939 – August 20, 2026

Karen S. Matthews, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend, passed away on August 20, 2026, at the age of 87.

Karen was born on July 16, 1939, in Fostoria, Ohio, to Helen and Ralph Weimerskirch. She grew up in a large Catholic family, surrounded by her brothers and sister and the strong family bonds that remained an important part of her life.

Karen married James D. Matthews, and together they had one son, Michael. Family was always at the center of Karen’s life. She was an exceptionally devoted and loving mother who consistently put the needs and interests of her family, and especially her son, ahead of her own.

Karen was also an accomplished, determined and hardworking professional. She spent much of her career in the medical field, including many years working for a neurosurgeon in Michigan. Later, she managed the office of a plastic surgeon and helped expand the practice by opening several spas offering aesthetic and wellness treatments. She was driven and capable, took great pride in her work, and accomplished much throughout her professional life.

Over the years, Karen lived in Ohio, Michigan, Texas and Florida. She and Jim spent approximately ten years living on Lake Orion in Michigan, where they shared a love of the water. That love remained a theme throughout Karen’s life. In later years, she enjoyed spending her winters in Fort Myers, Florida, near the beaches and warm waters of the Gulf, and her summers in Marblehead, Ohio, along the shores of Lake Erie.

For all of her professional accomplishments and determination, Karen will perhaps be remembered most for the way she treated the people around her. She was sweet, kind, calm and gentle, with a loving nature and a genuine concern for others. She valued relationships, cared deeply for the people in her life, and gave generously of herself. She was a wonderful mother and devoted family member whose family always knew how deeply they were loved.

Karen was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James D. Matthews; her parents, Helen and Ralph Weimerskirch; her brothers, Jim, Gary, David and Peter Weimerskirch; and her sister, Julie.

She is survived by her son, Michael Matthews, and his wife, Tricia; her grandchildren, Tyler and Melanie; four great-grandchildren; her brothers, Tim Weimerskirch and his wife, Jackie, and Steve Weimerskirch and his wife, Mary Ann; and her sister-in-law, Claudia Weimerskirch, wife of Karen’s late brother Jim.

Karen lived a full and wonderful life. She leaves behind a family who loved her deeply, countless cherished memories, and a legacy of warmth and generosity that will endure for years to come. She will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.