Karen Weiss Mulder

1971 - 2024

Karen Weiss Mulder
December 20, 1971 - February 2, 2024
Karen Weiss Mulder, 52, of San Mateo, Calif., passed away suddenly on February 2, 2024, in Cooke County, Texas, after a tragic car accident while driving with her husband, James Mulder. Her husband, James, succumbed to his injuries on February 8, 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, Calif. 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 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, a celebration of her life will be held at Menlo Church, 950 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park, Calif. Service time: 1:00 to 2:15 p.m.
In remembrance of Karen's life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to American Association of University Women (aauw-ca.org), Best Friends Animal Society (bestfriends.org) and Charity: water (charitywater.org).