Richard George Matt (1930-2017)

MATT, WILT, PAULSON, BALDUS, ARGOTSINGER, HENRICH, GIBBS

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:14

Obituary from Shroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel,Boone, Iowa.

Richard ‘Dick’ Matt, age 87 of Ames, died October 6, 2017, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.

A Funeral Mass will be Thursday, October 12, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Ames with Reverend Jon Seda officiating.

Richard George Matt was born in Boone, Iowa, on January 24, 1930, the son of William and Mary (Wilt) Matt. He graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Boone in 1948. Dick then enlisted with the United States Air Force in 1948, and served during the Korean War. He was discharged in 1952 with the rank of Staff Sergeant. Following his discharge, Dick attended DeVry Institute in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated in 1954 with an engineering degree.

On November 10, 1956, Dick married Priscilla Paulson at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Ames, Iowa. In 1954, Dick began working as an engineer for WOI AM/FM radio and television in Ames. He retired from WOI in 1992. Dick enjoyed fishing, golfing, was an avid Iowa State Cyclones fan, and a member of the American Legion, Post #37 of Ames,. His family and his faith were very important to him. He loved being a grandpa and great-grandpa. Dick worked as a physical education teacher at St. Cecilia School; was a member of the Knights of Columbus Zachary Kucin Council #2230 of Ames; the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, the 263 Dowling Assembly of Des Moines; he served as Grand Knight of the Zachary Kucin Council; District Deputy and State Deputy of the Knights of Columbus; State Membership Director and State Program Director; and Master of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus for the State of Iowa. Dick also loved to perform volunteer work, particularly for Special Olympics. He was awarded a charter membership in the Volunteer Hall of Fame for the State of Iowa.

He is preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Stephen Matt; a sister, Joanne Baldus; sister-in-law, Judy Matt and brother-in-law, Joe Baldus. Dick is survived by his wife, Priscilla of Ames; two sons, Richard Matt and wife, Victoria McCullough-Matt of Grayslake, Illinois, and John Matt and wife, Traci of Roeland Park, Kansas; two daughters, Monica Argotsinger and husband, Ron of Aurora, Colorado, and Cecilia Henrich and husband, Tom of Le Mars; 13 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; three brothers, Bill Matt and wife, Joan of Houston, Texas, Tom Matt and wife, Janet of Boone, and Jim Matt of Leavenworth, Kansas; a sister, Joyce Gibbs and husband, Jack of Omaha, Nebraska; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at St. Cecilia Catholic Church on Wednesday from 4 until 7 p.m. where a Vigil Service will be at 5:30 p.m. and a Rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m. The family will be present at the church from 5 to 7 p.m.

On Thursday, friends may call at the Church from 9:30 a.m. until service time. A graveside service will be held at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Boone at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Cecilia Catholic Church general fund.