John Mathes

John Thomas Mathes died on September 18, 2019 at age 74 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. He died doing what he loved, riding his bike. He was born on May 12, 1945 in Burlington, Iowa to George Herman and Rosemary Donohoo Mathes. He grew up at the Iowa Ordnance Plant (now the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant) in Middletown, IA. He was the sixth of thirteen children. He attended St. Paul Elementary School and graduated from Notre Dame Catholic High School in 1963. He went on to attend The University of Iowa and graduated with an Industrial Engineering Degree. He married Judith Ann Messmer on September 16, 1967 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Burlington, Iowa. They celebrated their 52nd anniversary 2 days before his death. He started working at 3M right out of college and worked for them his whole career (in Rochester, NY and Weatherford, OK) and for its later incarnations as Imation and Ferrania. He retired in 2007. He and Judi moved to Broken Arrow soon after that to be near their children and grandchildren. John (or Yo as his siblings called him) was quiet, but had a sneaky sense of humor. He was a lifelong Yankees fan. He enjoyed watching movies at the theater and at home (on the Hallmark Channel especially). He liked to be active and played racquetball, basketball, and golf. He rode his bike on the Tulsa trails as often as he could and rode with clippers and a saw in his bike bag so he could maintain the trail to his satisfaction. He loved chocolate and was known to eat dessert first —or only —at restaurants. He also loved animals and had many pet dogs over the years. He could be seen twice daily walking their dog, Lola, through the neighborhood. He loved his family dearly and was always there for them. He faithfully attended the Catholic Church throughout his life. He is survived by his wife, Judi; their three children Laura Mathes (Columbia, MO), Robbie Mathes and his wife Mary Wentz Mathes (Tulsa, OK), and Jeff Mathes (Broken Arrow, OK); his grandchildren Taylor Mathes (Broken Arrow, OK), Kendal Mathes (Owasso, OK), and Braden Mathes (Tulsa, OK); his great-grandchildren Dakota Seay (Tulsa, OK) and Ryker Harrell (Tulsa, OK); and his siblings George Mathes and his wife Jacquie (Woodstock, IL), Ann Patterson (Burlington, IA), Marigrace Pennebaker (Burlington, IA), Kate Mertens and her husband Dan (Mount Pleasant, IA), Eileen Vorwerk and her husband Larry (Burlington, IA), Jim Mathes and his wife Charlene (Springfield, IL), Rosie Kaiser and her husband Mark (Jefferson City, MO), Robert Mathes (Galesburg, IL), Barbara Brown and her husband Jay (Burlington, IA); and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Bill and Richard Mathes, and his sister Jane Mathes Learned. A memorial funeral mass for John has been scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Saturday, September 28, 2019 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Burlington, Iowa. Burial will follow the service at Aspen Grove Cemetery, Burlington, Iowa. Viewing will be at the church just prior to the service from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the family for the John Mathes Memorial Fund.

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John Mathes

May 12, 1945 - September 18, 2019