Ron Matzke

Ronald L. Matzke was born on April 18, 1933, to Otto and Sophia (Sturm) Matzke.  He was the youngest of six children.  Raised on an apple orchard in Tieton, Washington, he worked alongside his father and siblings.

Although he enjoyed being an Eagle Scout, he had an intense love for music.  Ron attended Highland High School, in Tieton, where he sang in the glee club and played the saxophone in the band. Upon graduation, he earned a music scholarship for piano to Central Washington College in Ellensburg.

In 1953, under the recommendation of his then pastor, Charles Semke, he attended Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa where he met his wife of 68 years, Joan Dominick.  They were married on February 17, 1954.

Joan and Ron enjoyed traveling all over the United States and visited 47 states.  Although they lived most of their married life in Washington State, they also made a home in Iowa, Colorado, and California and for the last 17 years they lived in McKinney, Texas.

In just about every church that they attended, Ron enjoyed singing in the choir, playing the piano, or teaching Sunday school.   Ron’s greatest joy, however, was his family.  Their son, Steven, and his wife Debi Morelli-Matzke blessed them with three grandchildren and two ‘bonus’ grandchildren, Colby, and Taylor (Haines) Matzke, Casey Matzke, Haley (Matzke) and Tiras Maxeiner.  Additionally, on August 7, 2022, God blessed them with their first great grandchild, Hayes Timothy Matzke, son of Colby and Taylor.  Although Ron never got to meet Hayes in person, he was thankful for the video calls where he got to see his great grandson and tell him he was loved and covered in prayer.

Although Ron was unable to attend church for the last several years, you would always find him watching Dr. David Jeremiah or Dr. Jeffress from First Baptist Dallas.  He was a loving husband, caring father, proud grandfather, and prayer warrior.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers; they have been a source of comfort and strength for our family.  We grieve the loss of a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle and friend, but we rejoice in knowing that Ron will be waiting for our arrival when God calls us home.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Sophie Matzke, stepmother Mattie Matzke; sisters Elaine Webert, Charlotte Weaver, and Elnora Zeutenhorst; his brothers, Wesley and Irvin (Bud) Matzke and numerous other friends and family members.

There will a memorial service to celebrate Ron’s life Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. at Allen Family Funeral Options officiated by Pastor David Jordan. If you wish to join the service via webcast please visit: http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/80919

There will be a reception immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, Ron and Joan would prefer to support their granddaughter’s ministry in Germany; http://paypal.me/familienkirche