Arthur A. Matje

Arthur A. Matje, 84, of Parkview, died peacefully Thursday, September 25, 2025 at his home surrounded by family.

Funeral services and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Long Grove. Burial will be in the Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island with military honors. If you’d like to attend the burial, please be at Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home at 1:30 p.m. to go in procession. Visitation will be held Monday from 4 until 6 p.m. at St. Ann’s with additional visitation Tuesday from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m. at church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lions Club International, St. Ann’s Catholic Church, or the Long Grove Volunteer Fire Department.

Arthur Alan Matje was born on December 21, 1940 in Bellevue, Iowa, son of Arthur August and Arlene Mae (Dieckman) Matje. He attended Augustana College in Rock Island and then Worsham College of Mortuary Science. Art proudly served our country in the Army from 1963 until 1965.

Art was united in marriage to Susanne Van De Kerckhove on August 15, 1964 at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Rock Island. They have shared over 61 years of marriage and memories.

Art served our community as a licensed funeral director until his retirement in 2000. Starting at DeRoo Funeral Home and then spent twenty-six years at Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home. Following his retirement, he assisted at Chambers Funeral Home, Eldridge and drove for W&H Livery Service.

Art’s service to our community continued his involvement with many local organizations. He was a Past President of the Eldridge Lions Club and served two separate terms as District Governor in 2010-2011 and 2018-2019. His service to the Lions earned him the Bud Klise Award from the Iowa Lions and he was also a Melvin Jones Fellow. Art was also active in the Knights of Columbus serving as a Past Grand Knight of Leo Council #716 in Moline/East Moline and later joined Loras Council #532 and as a 4th Degree member of Loras General Assembly. Art served two terms on the North Scott School Board and was on the Long Grove Volunteer Fire Department for many years.

As busy as Art was, he never missed an opportunity to take in his boy’s games and activities, most nights sitting in the stands with his pager on his belt, knowing he may be called away to serve another family facing a loss. He enjoyed playing guitar and traveling to camp and fish with his family.

Those left to honor his memory are his wife, Susanne, Parkview; sons and their spouses: Christopher (Rhonda) Matje, Donahue, Craig (Diane) Matje, Davenport, and Arthur “Artie” (Tammy) Matje, Frisco, Texas; grandchildren: Nick (Amy Holland) Matje, Donahue, Mitch (Brittany) Matje, Eldridge, Zoe (Daniel) Killian, Spring Hill, Kansas, Mary Kathryn Matje, Shawnee Mission, Kansas, Christian (Hailey Bartels) Kansas City, Kansas, Dakota Matje, Chicago, Quincy (Nana) Hardin, Olathe, Kansas, Trey Hardin, Frisco, Texas, Blake Nelson, and Brent (Michelle) Nelson; great-grandchildren: Drake, Sophia, Wyatt, Everleigh, Eleanor, Ember, Jackson, and Ryder; a sister, Carol Nass, Clinton; sister-in-law, Sharon Corken, Orion, Illinois; brother-in-law Richard Van De Kerckhove, Coal Valley, Illinois; special family David and Joan Claussen;special friend Judy Kirby; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, Cary Matje, his parents, a sister and brothers-in-law, Laurel and Roger Petrick, Volker Nass, Thomas Van De Kerckhove, and Patrick Corken. May they rest in peace.