Matthew H. Wiederkehr

Matthew H. Wiederkehr, 90, was blessed with a peaceful death Sunday, September 8th on the birthday of the Virgin Mary surrounded in love, by his wife, two daughters and son-in-law as they prayed the divine mercy rosary. Matt is preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Mary Wiederkehr; sisters, Hermina R., Antonita J.; brothers, Leo J., John H., Eugene W.; nephews, Mark Wiederkehr and John Wiederkehr; sisters-in-law, Delores Wiederkehr and Lou Wiederkehr. He is survived by his treasured wife of 65 years, Elizabeth “Bobbie” Lipp Wiederkehr; two daughters, Denise (Jeff) McDonald and Donna Wiederkehr; brother, Alcuin (Linda); sisters, Rebecca (Lee Potts) Wiederkehr and Delores (Donald) Neumeier; Sisters-In-Law Linda Wiederkehr, Emily Schroeder, 27 nieces and nephews, (often to whom he played a doting father); many more great and great-great nieces and nephews. He is also Surrogate Grandfather to many of Donna’s children of the heart from Rwanda, Norbert, Halima, Gaju, Natasha, Amani, Derrick, Ange, Roger, Albert, Albine, Amen, Georgette and Pony (from S. Sudan)., including a great grandchild “Prince” and one great granddaughter on the way, “Naiah”. He opened his heart and loved all of his Rwandan families’ friends as their Grandpa, including all the kids from New Hope Homes. Matt was born in Altus, Arkansas in 1929. He attended St. Mary’s grade school on St. Mary’s Mountain in Altus and Subiaco Academy High School in Subiaco, Arkansas. After high school he went to the University of Arkansas for a time before joining the Navy for 4 years during the Korean War. After returning to the states and while stationed in CA, he met his wife, Elizabeth (Elsie) from Hague ND. He re-named her “Bobbie” to reflect her hair that “bobbed”. This name has stayed with her. After getting married, and completing his service in the Navy, they moved to Milwaukee where he attended the Milwaukee School of Engineering. This eventually led to an engineering job in St. Paul MN with the 3M Company, then Control Data. He worked for Control Data until his highly creative energy took him out on his own to begin his ballooning career. Matt always had a passion for aviation. He started flying fixed wing aircraft. He actually was at the controls flying with his son-in-law the last 2 years, living for his next ride. This passion was passed on to both of his daughters. His other passion was sailing, taking his family out every weekend on the “Bobbie Ds”. Donna has continued in his footsteps. Matt was one of the first 10 hot air balloon pilots in the United States. He was instrumental in creating the 1st FAA approved Balloon Flight School. Safety was his number 1 priority throughout his Ballooning Career. He established 22 world records for distance and duration. He developed a creative and successful Advertising Business with his fleet of hot air balloons where he became known as “CommanderMatt”. His business took him all over the United States and occasionally out of the country. He couldn’t have done this without the support of his wife “Bobbie” who held down the fort while he was traveling. Matt was inducted into the US Ballooning Hall of Fame in July, 2012 - the ultimate honor in Ballooning. In July of 2007, Matt came down with a severe infection while on a fishing trip. He ended up at the Mayo Clinic in emergency surgery. Matt became dangerously septic and was in ICU for 13 days with every organ shutting down, except his heart. It was at this time he had a near-death experience that changed his life forever. This led to an intensified, public passion for the rosary. In August 2018, with the help of his daughter Donna, they launched “The Rosary Guy” on Facebook. In April 2019, Matt once again defeated the odds by surviving double pneumonia and sepsis at age 89 carrying him through his 90th Birthday Bash. Since then there have been over 260,000 views of “The Rosary Guy” on Facebook”. His ministry to teach the Rosary to everyone kept him alive. He loved to fish and in the end became a “Fisher of Men” through his Facebook page. Matt requested that his transition to eternal life be a time of celebration. Celebrate with us that he has lived a beautiful life, was well prepared for death, and is now with his Creator weeping for joy before the throne. Visitation 4-8 PM Friday, September 13th with a Rosary/prayer service at 6:30 PM, and a Time of Sharing from 7-8 PM at Roberts Family Life Celebration Home, Forest Lake. Mass of Christian Burial 11 AM Saturday, September 14th, with visitation beginning at 10 AM and a Rosary service at 10:30 AM at The St. Genevieve Parish Center, 6995 Centerville Rd, Centerville. 55038 In lieu of flowers, we ask for you to contribute to the tax-deductible College Scholarship fund established in Matt’s honor for his ‘grandkids of the heart’ at New Hope Homes, Rwanda. https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/newhopecollege Lastly, we ask that you go to sevensorrowsrosary.org and pray the seven sorrows rosary with him. It is the greatest honor you could bestow on this most precious man. The Rosary Guy Facebook page with continue on with Denise and Donna.