Karen S. Mitchelar

Karen S. Mitchelar, 83, of Livingston, IL, passed away on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at Alhambra Rehab and Healthcare Center in Alhambra, IL.

She was born on June 20, 1942, in Highland, IL, to Edward and Isabella (nee Kaiser) Goss. On June 11, 1962, she married Robert Mitchelar at Grantfork United Church of Christ in Grantfork, IL.

Together Karen and Bob shared over 6 decades of love, building a home and a family, while working on their small farm. In addition to a full-time career, Karen was a farmer’s wife completing all of those extra duties while holding down the household.

Upon their marriage, Karen became a dedicated active member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday School, was a member of Ladies Aid and the church secretary. Karen was the epitome of a Christian woman. She set a wonderful example for her children, showing them and her grandchildren the importance of attending church every Sunday, honesty, giving, and forgiving.

Karen had a smile and kind words to everyone she met, if even just in passing. She was so very sweet to everyone, but this sweetness also carried into her home. She was always calm and soft spoken and understanding. Karen was also extremely witty, keeping laughter at all family events. She was very wise and therefore great at giving life advice due to her deep understanding of the world.

Karen was an immensely hard-working woman. She worked tirelessly at her full-time job as an editor of two local newspapers for many years. She worked late into the evening to be able to report on the communities, their members, and events. She made everyone feel special. On top of putting a paper together weekly from front to back, she also made many laughs with her weekly editorial column that featured the humor of raising a family and the comical events of daily life.

Karen was dedicated to helping others by advancing and improving her community. She served on the town board for many years. Karen’s ideas and efforts brought Livingston their library, their Senior Center as well as the city’s homecoming parades and several other town projects. She was also an elected LHS school board member for many years and longtime member of the PTO.

There was not much down time in Karen’s busy life as a full-time mom, editor, invested grandmother, community leader and devoted wife but in those few moments without obligations that she did have, she enjoyed planting flower gardens around her little farm and putting in a large vegetable garden each year. She also loved photography and flower arranging. She took her passion for flowers and worked in the local floral shop later in life.

As life started to slow down, Karen became employed in a more 9-5 job at an Abstracts and Title company. There she made a lot of friends and was able to enjoy experiences like going on work trips, and to Cardinal games (to which she was an avid fan). Above all Karen put her family and the needs of others above herself her entire life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Isabella Goss; husband, Robert Mitchelar; and four grandchildren, Robert Walter Mitchelar, Phillip Edward Mitchelar, Jonathan Edward Mitchelar, and Trisha Sue Karl.

Karen is survived by her children, Robert D. (Kim) Mitchelar, Livingston, IL, Dana L. (William “Ed”) Miller, Livingston, IL, and Melissa A. (significant other, Kevin Chartrand) Matesa, Staunton, IL; grandchildren, Jason E. Hamby, Livingston, IL, William “Christopher” (Kimberly) Miller, Gillespie, IL, Tracy A. Mitchelar, Alton, IL, Louis M. (Crissy) Mitchelar, Maryville, IL, Shane P. (Andrea) Mitchelar, Livingston, IL, Halie L. (Jacob) Clayton, Edwardsville, IL, Adrianne I. Karl, Staunton, IL, Olivia G. Matesa, Staunton, IL, and Caitlynn E. Matesa, Staunton, IL; great grandchildren, Samantha Janson, Carrigan Murphy, Lanny Janson, Kelton Murphy, Eli Higgins, Briele Mitchelar, Clayton Hamby, Colson Karl, Addison Mitchelar, Paul Mitchelar, Mya Mitchelar, and Rowan Clayton; and sister, Lynn Puryear.

Memorial donations may be made to Holy Cross Lutheran Church or to Alzheimer’s Association.

Visitation: Thursday, March 19, 2026, from 9:00 to 11:00 am, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Livingston, IL

Funeral Service: Thursday, March 19, 2026, 11:00 am, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Livingston, IL

Clergy: Pastor Darwin Schrader

Interment: New Spangle Cemetery, Livingston, IL

Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL