John Lyle Matz

John L. Matz passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on August 22, 2018, age 74, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease and Lewy Body Dementia.  He was born June 5, 1944 in Bellingham, WA to Paul and Marion (Shrader) Matz.

John lived most of his life in Ferndale, WA with the exception of the two years he spent in the Army and two years he went to a technical college in Mt. Vernon for a Computer Programming degree.  He started his Computer Programming career at Frank Brooks.  He later started working at Georgia-Pacific where he worked for over 30 years.  He met the love of his life, Linda Patrick, at GP.  They were married for over 42 years.

John enjoyed coaching kids in T-ball, baseball and soccer.  He loved watching his sons play T-ball, baseball, basketball and soccer.  He also enjoyed going camping with his family as well as hiking and fishing with his sons.  He volunteered at Ferndale Food Bank and at North Bellingham Elementary in the 3rd grade classroom of his nephew, Jim LaRose II.

John was a wonderful and loving husband, father, grandfather and uncle.  He enjoyed being able to spend time with his immediate family and extended family.

John was preceded in death by his mom and dad, brothers-in-law James LaRose I and Lindy Lingbloom, nephew Terry Lingbloom and aunt Gene Swanson.

John is survived by his loving wife, sons Chris (Shirley) Matz  and Brian Matz, grandsons Dominic and Jameson Matz, sisters Carol Lingbloom and Paula LaRose and numerous nieces and nephews.