James Arden Mathews

On October 12, 1947, James Arden Mathews was born to Charles and Ardean (Seaton) Mathews. He grew up on the west side of Grand Rapids, Michigan, playing all sorts of sports and instruments with his brother, Scott. He graduated from Union High School and went to Ferris State University where he earned a degree in pharmacy and was captain of the tennis team.

He was the third generation to become a pharmacist and worked in his father's drug store, Mathews Pharmacy. Before he went off to college, he met Cathleen O'Brien. She walked into his drug store one day holding two of her many little brothers, one by each hand, and with her jaw wired shut after jaw surgery. He was smitten with her immediately, convinced her to date him, then spent the next five years learning to love the ways of a big family.

On August 9, 1969, they were married at St James Church in Grand Rapids and embarked on a 56-year journey of raising their own large family. They had three daughters in Grand Rapids, then moved to a 100-year-old cottage in Highland Park, Grand Haven, which he spent the rest of his life fixing up. There, they had three more children, and Jim was received into the Catholic Church at St. Patrick, thereby gaining an even larger family in Faith.

Jim was known in town for his music at St. Patrick Church; his involvement in sports at the YMCA and Norton Pines; and his participation on city boards. He was definitively known for his work as a pharmacist in the area. Jim started out as the manager of pharmacy at North Ottawa Community Hospital and went on to start Dunewood Pharmacy, and later, franchise OptionCare Home Infusion. After OptionCare, Jim spent a brief time working for FFF in California before he landed his final pharmacy job as COO at HomeTown Pharmacy in New Era.

Jim was diagnosed with Inclusion Body Myositis 12 years ago, a disease which slowly robbed him of his own muscle. No one ever heard him complain as he slowly went from being an avid tennis player to being confined to a wheelchair, eventually dependent on his wife for all his needs. His Faith and Love grew as his body diminished, and he helped many people navigate this rare disease and accept the sorrows it brings. He was proud to have served as the chair of the Myositis Foundation.

On Thursday. February 5, 2026, Jim died peacefully in the arms of the Church with all his children and his wife surrounding him.

He is survived by his loving wife, Cathleen; his children, Shannon (Craig) Leidel, Meghan (Kerry) Noonan, Kaitrin (Michael) Drost, Ian (Lynn) Mathews, Peter (Kelli) Mathews, Brigid (Aaron) van Baal; and 36 grandchildren: Fr. Samuel, Anne (Ryan) Teves, Deacon Charlie, Mary Claire, Kathleen, John, Virginia, Evelyn, and Tommy, Liam (Katya), Seamus, Maire, Bronagh, Sinead, Kieran, Fiona, Sean, Patrick, Malachy, Emilia, Josef, Helen, George, Leo, Eleanor, Adelaide, Catherine, Ida, Vivian, Lucy, Harper, Frances, Albertus, Josephine, Arden, Zelie; one great- grandchild, Anna; his brother, Scott (Lee) Mathews; and several nieces, nephews, and brothers and sisters in-law.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Jim will take place at 11 a.m. on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at St. Patrick Church of St. Patrick – St. Anthony Parish (920 Fulton St., Grand Haven, MI 49417). Visitation will be held at the church on Wednesday, February 11th, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., followed by the Vigil service and Eulogy. A Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the funeral on Thursday at the church. Interment will take place at Lake Forest Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his memory to: The Myositis Association (TMA), The Community of St. John- Attention: Fr. Samuel Mary, or offer masses to be said for Jim.

Please visit www.klaassen funeralhome.com to sign Jim's online guestbook.