Sara Jo Matthews, 63, passed away peacefully listening to her favorite music on Sept. 19, 2014, at the Lutheran Social Services Glen Assisted Living, Whitewater.
Sara Jo was born on July 19, 1951, in Janesville to Lois and Leon Matthews. She lived in the Lake Geneva area for most of her life. She graduated from Lakeland School in 1970. After graduation she worked at VIP Services in Elkhorn and Sentry food store in Lake Geneva until it closed. For many years, she lived on her own.
She loved being independent and enjoyed her cat. As she grew older, her medical needs became greater and she resided in different group homes in the Walworth County area.
Sara Jo was full of life. She could put a smile on everyone’s face. She was shy at first but once you got to know her, watch out. She did everything with gusto and took it to the limit, whether it was eating pizza (her favorite), singing at church, playing her drums and guitar or participating in Special Olympics bocce ball and bowling.
In 2006, she met the love of her life, Kenny. Although they only had a short time together, they made memories to last through eternity. During these years she was surrounded by the love of Kenny and his family. She enjoyed spending time with her “adopted” family and they in turn thought of Sara Jo as one of their own. After Kenny passed away, Sara Jo continued a very close relationship with her “adopted” nieces. Sara Jo loved being an aunt.
Sara Jo is survived by her favorite cousins John David and Sherry Lundahl, of Delavan and many cousins throughout Wisconsin; Kenny’s family, especially her nieces, Kin, Geri and Rhonda and their families; her “bestest friend in the whole wide world,” Susan; and special friends, Michael, Steve, John, Gene, Sandy, Patti, Tim and Karen; her Delavan United Church of Christ family; and all of her friends in Special Olympics.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her beloved Kenny. She will be missed so much and will continue to live in our hearts forever.
A special thank you to Mary, her guardian, for all of the guidance and support given to Sara Jo over the years, and a grateful thank you to The Glen and to St. Jude Hospice for making Sara Jo’s last days peaceful.
A celebration of life will be held at the Delavan UCC Church in Delavan at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Visitation will take place at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lake Geneva. A luncheon will follow. For her celebration, please feel free to dress in jeans, shirts and baseball caps to honor Sara Jo.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Walworth County Special Olympics adult program. Please send memorials to the Lake Geneva YMCA in care of Walworth County Special Olympics adult program.
Steinke Funeral Home and Cremation Services are assisting the family with the arrangements. For online obituary and guest registry go to www.steinkefuneralhomeinc.com.
