Karen Drew, a Detroit news anchor for Local 4 (WDIV), recently shared the heartbreaking news that her ex-husband, Paul Gorcyca, passed away on September 15, 2025, at age 61. She announced this publicly via social media in early October 2025, posting a black-and-white photo from his memorial service with her daughters, Madison and Morgan, whom they shared.

Relationship Timeline

Paul Gorcyca and Karen Drew married in 2008 after meeting through mutual connections in the auto industry, where he worked prominently. They built a family together, welcoming their two daughters soon after, but filed for divorce in 2023 after 15 years, citing irreconcilable differences per court records. Despite the split, Paul remained deeply involved as a devoted father, often described in his obituary as a "girl dad" who prioritized his children above all.

Paul's Career and Legacy

Gorcyca was an accomplished auto industry executive, starting at Ford Motor Company before advancing to Director of New Business Development at Piston Group. Born December 25, 1963, he was survived by his mother, Mary Jo, and preceded by his father, S. Gerald Gorcyca; friends remembered him for his mantra "Do what is right" and his generosity in building lasting friendships. Karen credited him with giving her "the best gifts of my life—my daughters," highlighting his profound impact even post-divorce.

What Caused His Death?

No official cause of death has been publicly confirmed or detailed in reports, leaving some speculation in online discussions but no verified details from family or authorities. Karen described her family as "in a fog," taking time off from anchoring to grieve and support her daughters through this loss. One unverified YouTube video speculated privately about cancer, but this lacks substantiation from primary sources like her posts or news outlets.

Public Reaction and Trending Context

The story trended locally in Detroit media circles in late 2025, with outlets like Deadline Detroit and Soap Central covering Karen's emotional Instagram/Facebook post: "We are in a fog... last week we buried my children's father. Paul was loved by so many." Forums and social media showed sympathy, focusing on the challenges for her daughters rather than gossip, though older Reddit threads confused her with a Real Housewives figure (unrelated). As of January 2026, updates remain sparse, emphasizing privacy during mourning.

TL;DR: Paul Gorcyca, Karen Drew's ex-husband and father of her daughters, died September 15, 2025; cause undisclosed. She mourned publicly, taking work leave.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.