Obituaries : Karen L. Stickley (Mather)

Karen L. Stickley (Mather), 67, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 8, 2025, surrounded by her family after a brief illness.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 2:30 PM at The Seventh-day Adventist Church, 4401 42nd Street, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with a funeral service to follow. A luncheon will be held in the church basement immediately afterward. Memorials may be directed to Becky Cripe, 505 E 2nd St., Vinton, Iowa 52349.

Born on July 17, 1957, to Evelyn and Roy Mather, Karen grew up enjoying the simple adventures of country life.

Karen had a deep love for nature, spending countless hours outdoors. She passed on her passion by teaching her children how to garden and compost, mushroom hunting with her mom, and always soaking up as much sun as possible.

Her greatest legacy was her unwavering faith in Jesus Christ and devotion to the Seventh-day Adventist faith. Karen prayed faithfully for her children and loved ones to know His grace, and she lived as a testament to the transformative power of His word, radiating peace and love to all who knew her.

Karen is survived by her six children: Roger Hartman of Cedar Rapids, Becky (Josh) Cripe of Vinton, Robert Stickley of Vinton, Shawn Stickley of Vinton, Rachel (Nicholas) Darling of Toddville, and Matt (Sherree) Stickley of Vinton. She especially loved spending time with her grandchildren: KyLee, Bryson, Shawn Jr., Louie, Miles, Lindy, and Leo. She is also survived by several adult grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three sons, Douglas Hartman, Derek Stickley, and Michael Stickley; her brother, Ronnie Mather; and her sister, Mary Miller Mather.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 2:30 PM at The Seventh-day Adventist Church, 4401 42nd Street, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with a funeral service to follow. A luncheon will be held in the church basement immediately afterward.