Mary Therese (Amersdorfer) Matuzak

Mary Therese (Amersdorfer) Matuzak, 90, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 8, 2020 at Hospice of Dayton. She is now reunited with her beloved husband, David Allen Matuzak, who died April 2, 1974.

Mary was born October 29, 1929 in Alpena, Michigan. Her favorite claim to fame was that she was born on the day that the stock market crashed to start the Great Depression. She was the middle child of Herman Mathew Amersdorfer and Stella Marie (Placie) Amersdorfer.

Mary was a long-time teacher with an adventuresome spirit. She graduated with her teaching degree from Western Michigan University and received her Master’s in Education from Michigan State University after her husband’s death. She started her teaching career in San Diego, CA, then Savannah, GA, finally settling down to teach in Flint, MI after marrying the love of her life, Dave, on May 23, 1955.

Mary was an avid Scrabble player, had a great sense of humor, enjoyed sewing, knitting, painting, reading and loved to travel. Among her favorite trips with family and friends were to China, Italy, Thailand, Belize, Europe and Costa Rica (where she zip-lined at age 80!).

She leaves behind her children, Joseph (Josie Kearns) Matuzak, Steven Matuzak, Laura (Gregory) Kiddon, Paul Matuzak and Barbara (David Reynolds) Matuzak; six grandchildren, Jessica Lantz, Elizabeth Matuzak, Andrew (Megan) Kiddon, James Kiddon, Barbara Kiddon and Emily Criss; and seven great-grandchildren, Jay, Valarie, Jimmy (Jr), Mya, Francisco, Michael and Madeleine. She also leaves behind a special sister-in-law, Patricia Amersdorfer and numerous nieces and nephews.

Her husband, Dave, one daughter, Anne Lantz, a brother, Matthew Amersdorfer and sister, Joan Somers, are deceased.

Mary was always interested in medicine and was a medical transcriptionist in between having children. Combining this with being a teacher, she joked that she would donate her body to WSU Boonshoft School of Medicine and finally make it to med school!

She will be cremated and her family will have a private memorial at a later date.

Donations can be made in Mary’s name to a charity of the donor’s choice.