Mathew John Baumgartner

MADISON Mathew John Baumgartner, age 55, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Monona on Thursday, February 17, 2011. Matt was born in Monona on November 23, 1955, to the late Mathew R. and Ludie Baumgartner (now Ludie Harker). Matt attended Winnequah School in Monona and Monona Grove High School, before graduating from Queen of Apostles High School in Madison in 1973. Matt attended Madison Area Technical College and earned an Associate Degree in Automotive Mechanics. In 1975, he began a career that spanned more than 30 years at the Volkswagen dealership on East Washington Avenue that started as Bruns Volkswagen and later became Zimbrick. Matt began working as an auto mechanic at Bruns shortly after graduating from MATC and most recently was a Customer Service Advisor at Zimbricks Volkswagen dealership. During his tenure there, he developed a reputation as a highly-respected mechanic and an exacting taskmaster, expecting all employees who worked with him to meet his high standards for workmanship and integrity. Matt had the gift of exceptional musical ability, which he began to develop at an early age, playing the drums (loudly) in the basement of the family home on Ridgewood Avenue in Monona. His talents as a drummer were evident in junior high school, when as a seventh grader, Matt was recruited by the Monona Grove High School Band to play in their concerts. He was a member of Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps for a few years, taking part in regional and national competitions. After high school, he played with a number of well-known local bands in the Madison area, establishing his reputation as a skilled drummer. More recently, Matts musical talents were on display on dance floors in South Central Wisconsin, as he became an accomplished ballroom dancer, specializing in Ballroom, Latin, Country and West Coast Swing. He taught dance classes for many beginning dance students in Baraboo and Sauk City . For many years in the 1990s Matt was a familiar face at athletic fields and sports stadiums in Dane County, as he spent many hours facilitating, supporting and enjoying the sporting careers of his son Matt (hockey and football) and his daughter Laura (soccer, basketball and tennis). Matt was an avid fisherman and outdoorsman throughout most of his life, spending many hours fishing at the family cottage in Sawyer County in Northern Wisconsin. Matt also had a deep appreciation of and special ability to work with German Shepherds, owning and raising a total ofseven dogs over the years at his home in Monona. Most recently Matts attentions were devoted to spending time with his granddaughter Addyson and his 4-month old grandson Mayson, who live on the same street in Monona, just two houses away. On many evenings, neighbors would see Matt standing out at the end of his driveway, with his son Matt standing out at the end of his driveway, 200 yards away, both watching three year old Addy proudly walk, all by herself, over to grandpas house to color pictures and talk. Matt is survived by a son, Mathew (Sarah) of Monona; and a daughter, Laura of Minn., both children of Paula Baumgartner; two grandchildren, Addyson and Mayson; his mother, Ludie Harker of Middleton; three siblings, Robert (Sylvia Northey) of Madison; Barbara (Pris Herman) of Madison; and Mary (Royce) Engstrom of Missoula, Mo.; and girlfriend, Michelle DeMayo. A funeral service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 21, 2011. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 4 p.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be at Roselawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts can be made to an education fund for Matts grandchildren. "Mathew John Baumgartner Memorial Fund" at UW Credit Union. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts can be made to an education fund for Matts grandchildren. "Mathew John Baumgartner Memorial Fund" at UW Credit Union. Cemetery: Burial will be at Roselawn Memorial Park. Visitation: Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 4 p.m. until the time of the service. Service: A funeral service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 21, 2011.