We Remember Mathias “Matt” Winzen

On Wednesday June 26, Mathias “Matt” Winzen, loving father, grandfather, and great grandfather passed away in Issaquah, WA. Matt was 94 years old.

Matt was born in St. Louis, Missouri on January 22,1925. He was forced to grow up quickly by the early death of his father and older brother. But despite those tragedies, Matt always had a positive outlook and found the joy in life. In 1941, Matt met the love of his life, Ruth Phillips, at a hayride. Matt quickly became close with Ruth’s family, apprenticing as an electrician with her father.

Ruth and Matt’s courtship was interrupted by World War II. Matt enlisted in the Navy—cheating his way through part of the medical exam so he could serve. Matt fought with distinction in the Pacific Theatre, including in the battle of Leyte Gulf, where the destroyer escort he was on and other small American ships squared off against a much larger Japanese naval force intent on shelling US Marines invading the Philippine islands. Outnumbered and outgunned, Matt’s group fought so fiercely that the larger Japanese force had to retreat. Matt’s ship was hit by a shell in the battle and had to limp back to port for repairs.

When he returned home from the War, Matt picked up where he started, marrying Ruth. They bought a plot of land with Ruth’s family and, working long hours after work, built three houses, one for themselves and the others for Ruth’s parents and her Sister’s family.

Matt used the skills he learned in the Navy to start a career in refrigeration. Ever the hard worker, Matt rose through the ranks at Frigidaire, retiring as a regional service manager overseeing all service and repair work across the west and in Hawaii. Along the way they had two children, Dennis and Karen, who they adored.

After retiring, Matt and Ruth continued to chase their dreams, driving around the country in their motorhome, eventually splitting their time between their home in Danville, CA and an RV park in Arizona.
Matt and Ruth

loved spending time with their friends and family, traveling, and having a good time. Matt also loved learning and working with his hands. While working at Frigidaire, he would spend his lunches learning to be a car mechanic at a training center run by Frigidaire’s parent company, GM. He was known among his family and friends as being able to fix almost anything.

Matt is survived by his daughter and her husband (Karen and Stephen Ridlon), his son and his son’s wife (Dennis and Jennie Winzen), five grandchildren and their spouses, and twelve great-grandchildren.

A funeral mass will be held at 11 AM on Friday, July 5, 2019, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Issaquah. A committal service will be held at 10 AM, Monday, July 8th at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent. His family asks that, in lieu of sending flowers, donations be made in Matt’s name to EBC – Eastside Baby Corner www.babycorner.org Friends are invited to view photos, get directions and share memories in the family's online guest book at www.flintofts.com