Fred Matters

Frederick John Matters, 97, passed away on December 31, 2022 at Taylor Hospice in Des Moines. He was born in Ames, IA, on September 27, 1925, to Harold (Stubb) and Rhoby Mathews Matters. He was the middle child of five, raised on a farm, and attended Milford Township Consolidated School, graduating in 1944. Fred was active in basketball, baseball, and softball; he was one of the student bus drivers during the second world war. After high school, he went into the US Army, serving in El Paso, Texas, and Japan as one of the early boatloads into the country after the war. He served a year and a half with the occupational forces, achieving the rank of Sergeant. Fred returned home and graduated from UNI with a BA and later an MA and Specialist degrees from Drake University. He was a teacher in the Clemons Schools, a junior high Principal in Harlan and Iowa Falls, and a Superintendent of schools in Gladbrook and BCM of Brooklyn. Fred retired in 1987, and the Matters spent 16 winters in McAllen, Texas. They enjoyed traveling and have been to all 50 states, most of Europe, Canada, and Mexico. Fred was a long-time member of the draft board in Poweshiek County and chair of the Administrative Council of the Grace Methodist Church in Brooklyn. He was also a charter member of the Kiwanis Club in Iowa Falls and Brooklyn. His hobbies included working on his farm and attending flea markets as well as selling at them in his hometowns and McAllen. Fred spent a number of years umpiring basketball, football and baseball. They celebrated their 50th anniversary by taking their children and grandchildren on a Disney cruise.

Fred married Lorine Rosewall at the Methodist church in Ruthven, IA, on April 2, 1950. They have three children: Terri of Broomfield, Colorado, Gary (Beth) of Council Bluffs, and Jean of Bondurant. He is also survived by 5 granddaughters: Kari (Chad) Thomas of Council Bluffs, Mandy (Steve) Greene of Bondurant, Kirsten (Steve) Roberts of Arvada, CO, Traci (Blake) Wilken of Underwood, and Cammy (Alex) Hinrichsen of Ames. The Matters also have 12 great-grandchildren: Julia, Jason and Jocelyn Thomas, Maverick, Nixon, Waverleigh Greene, Dottie and Corbin Roberts, Riley and Taylor Wilken and Brooks and Rory Hinrichsen, and sister-in-law, Karrol (Ron) Subbert. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Travis John Matters; parents, Harold and Rhoby Matters, brother, James Matters and sisters, Kathleen, Margaret, and Alyce.