Karen Weiss Mulder's Obituary
Obituary – Karen Weiss Mulder
Karen Weiss Mulder, 52, of San Mateo, CA passed away suddenly on February 2, 2024 in Cooke County, Texas, after a tragic car accident in a head-on collision while driving with her husband, James Mulder. Karen died at the scene. Her husband, James, succumbed to his injuries on February 8th surrounded by family. Karen leaves behind a beloved son, Zack Weiss, her brother Raymond, and her sisters, Alice and Kirsten.
Karen was born on December 20, 1971 at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, CA. Thus began a lifelong passion for all things Stanford.
She was a woman of unshakeable grit, starting a career in pricing on the back of her Stanford history degree, and working her way up to Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officers of The Hoover Institution. Though she’d recently built her dream home in Texas, she was determined to continue the work she relished, and she commuted between Texas and California.
Karen was a brilliant, complicated, and persistent woman. No crumbling trail or long-distance run could defeat her. She limped through one a vacation to South Carolina and Georgia on an undiagnosed broken leg, resolved to enjoy herself with friends and family despite the pain. Afterward, she told her astonished sisters she’d had a wonderful time.
December 8, 2018, Karen married James Mulder in a holiday-themed wedding at the Presidio, on a lawn overlooking the Golden Gate. Her dog Barnaby played ringbearer, and her new father-in-law presided over the ceremony. And though the weather was San-Francisco cold, Karen ensured her guests stayed warm with wine and dancing.
Karen loved country music, San Francisco sports teams, and Christmas (nearly every room in her home had its own tree). Her career, church, and interests led to lifetime friendships that she treasured. But she loved her son Zack above all.
Although she is gone too soon, Karen lived deeply and leaves those who knew her with a legacy of faith, love, and laughter. She taught us that love is everything, and life is short, so always remember to have fun.
On Thursday, February 22, 2024, the graveside service will be held at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo at 10 AM. A celebration of her life will be held at Menlo Church, 950 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park, CA. Service time: 1:00 to 2:15 pm, one-hour reception to follow.
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