Thomas Matzen

Thomas George Matzen was larger than life and is bigger than death. So, while his physical body may have failed him after a seven-year battle with cancer – he passed peacefully surrounded by his wife, children and friends on March 3rd at the age of 72 – his spirit rides on. Tom, or Matzen as his friends called him, lived a life that read like a legend. Cheating death multiple times and escaping Brazilian Federales. Conquering the Old 96’er and the Corner Bar’s Chili Dog challenge. Logging thousands of miles under the call-sign “Hard Hat” before laying it down on the Tail of the Dragon to save a Fat Boy. As John Kay so eloquently said, he was truly born to be wild.

Tom is survived by his soulmate and wife of 47 years, Pug. His beautiful and intelligent daughters Shawna (Lee) and Melissa, his incredibly handsome and funny sons Chris (Brooke) and Matt (Sarah) as well as his grandchildren: Croix, Maya, Nolan, Greyson, Katie and Jack. He is also survived by his take-no-shit sisters Judy and Shirley, his rugged iceberg-hiking bearded brother Richard and too many amazing cousins, nieces and nephews to pay for in this obituary. All of whom originated from Mildred and Mahlon Matzen. Two of the sweetest, funniest, craziest parents and grandparents you could ever hope for…fader un sa deherity ah sa feherity!  

The family will be hosting a Celebration of Life Party at Golf Club of Dublin, 5805 Eiterman Road, Dublin, Ohio 43016 on Sunday, April 14th from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. And since it’s the day before Tom’s birthday anyone attending better plan to call off Monday because we will be rocking out till the glass slipper shatters. 

The family wishes that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Kobacker House in Columbus, The American Cancer Society or The Green Bay Packers Foundation. If you were planning to send booze instead of flowers, then please, by all means, go ahead.

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