SPOUSE
WEDEMEYER, KAREN CLINE, 74, of Punta Gorda, FL died peacefully in her sleep on March 3, 2017 after a courageous battle with cancer. Karen was born in Akron, OH on November 8, 1942. She was the second of two children born to Virgil and Velma Cline. She spent her childhood in Huntington, WV and later in Mt. Olivet, KY where she graduated from Deming High School. Karen continued her educational interests at Morehead College and then at the University of Kentucky, where she graduated with a degree in Education in 1963. Karen moved to Cincinnati, OH to pursue what would become a lifelong passion for educating children. She began a career with the Cincinnati Public Schools, followed by a twenty-year career at the Summit Country Day School. She obtained a Masters Degree in Education Administration from Xavier University which led to a future career as a Principal. Karen met her husband Robert Wedemeyer ’62 in 1980 and they married in 1986. In 1996, Karen and Bob relocated to Punta Gorda, FL. There, Karen realized a life's dream to build a college preparatory school. Working with the leadership of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Karen launched a K-8 program and led a fundraising effort to construct a new school building in 2006. Karen retired from Good Shepherd Day School in 2008. In retirement, Karen was an active community leader. She was a board member of the Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association and she chaired fundraising efforts for the Team Punta Gorda Golf Tournament and The Tidewell Hospice Cup Regatta. Karen was an active member of the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club and the Mariners Boat Club. She remained an avid fan of the University of Kentucky Wildcats and the Cincinnati Bengals throughout her life. Karen is survived by her husband, Bob; her four children, Jeff (Ryan), David, Stephanie (Chris) and Scott (Dana) Wedemeyer ’88; and nine grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents Virgil and Velma; her sister Sandra; and her daughter-in-law, Cathy. A Memorial service celebrating Karen's life will be held at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 1800 Shreve St., Punta Gorda, FL 33950, on Wednesday, March 8 at 10:30 am. A reception will immediately follow from 12-2 pm at the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Karen Cline Wedemeyer Memorial Fund. Donations can me made at http://www.charlottecf.org/donate/.
