Leo Arthur Mathews
January 25, 1925 ~ May 5, 2017 (age 92) 92 Years OldShare using:
Leo Arthur Mathews, 92, of Peoria, IL, formerly of Hillsboro, IL, passed away on Friday, May 5, 2017, at 4:28 p.m. at OSF St. Francis Hospital, Peoria, IL. A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, May 12, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Hillsboro, IL. Burial will take place in St. Agnes Cemetery, Hillsboro, IL. The Very Reverend James L. Neuman, V.F., Pastor of St. Agnes Catholic Church, Hillsboro, IL will officiate.
Mr. Mathews was born on January 26, 1925 in St. Louis, MO to the late Joseph T. and Mary R. (Brunner) Mathews. He was a 1943 graduate of Eugene Coyle High School, Kirkwood, MO. Mr. Mathews served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II, participating in action on Guam. He worked for 31 years at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company working on fighter aircraft and was supervisor of the Parts Test Lab. Mr. Mathews lived in Old Monroe, MO, Mt. Olive, IL, Hillsboro, IL and then moved to Peoria, IL in 2002. He married Beatrice "Betty" L. Zeller on Oct. 1, 1958 in Belleville, IL and she preceded him in death on March 27, 2001. He was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church, Hillsboro; a member of Knights of Columbus Council 4608, 3rd degree; and a member of Hillsboro Senior Citizens Club, serving as Chaplin; VFW Post 1306, Taylor Springs, IL serving eight years as quartermaster; Hillsboro Independence Day committee, serving as treasurer for many years; involved in girls and women's softball programs in Hillsboro, serving as treasurer, coach of the Sr League Eagles and managed the Security Savings team.
Mr. Mathews is survived by seven children, Debbie (husband Bill) Morton of St. Charles, MO; Rene (husband Arthur) Taylor of DuQuion, IL; Lindsay Lynch of Tamaroa, IL; Kevin (wife Linda) Mathews of Jacksonville, AR; Maureen Mathews (husband Brian Buralli) of Peoria, IL; Rose Mathews (husband Ervin "Blue" Balusek) of Abilene, TX; Susie Mathews (husband Douglas Okey) of Peoria, IL; and a daughter-in-law, Mary Ellen Mathews of Hillsboro, IL; 19 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and one brother, Joseph P. Mathews of Youngstown, OH.
Mr. Mathews was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Betty, his brother John E. Mathews of Baldwin, MO and two sons, John E. Mathews on Sept. 22, 1968 and Michael George Mathews on Sept. 7, 2008.
