Matthew Pearson
November 17, 1998 - April 21, 2020
Obituary
** Memorial Update**
Please join us for these upcoming events to honor and celebrate Matthew. We will gather virtually on Thursday the 27th at 7:00 pm central, from the safe distance of a car on Friday the 28th at 4:00 pm, and for Liz Waters by Candlelight on Friday at 8:00 pm - a gathering of Matt's friends. Feel free to share this post to get the word out. More information can be found by following this link. We hope you can make it!
https://www.gatheringus.com/memorial/Matt-Pearson/4701
We have so treasured the stories and anecdotes we've been hearing about your experiences with Matt. Please continue to post these and share them with us however you'd like (here on the Gunderson site, on Matthew's Facebook page, on his GatheringUs page, or directly through messaging or email.) It has meant the world to us that friends have come up with unusual ways to remember him. We hope to hear more! We love you and look forward to seeing you!
Please feel free to share this to get the word out.❤️Guy, Mary, and Megan Pearson
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OREGON - Matthew Grant “Matt” Pearson, age 21, of Oregon, Wis., passed away on Tuesday, April 21, 2020. He was born on Nov. 17, 1998, in Elgin, Ill., the dear son of Guy and Mary (Wall) Pearson.
Matt graduated from Oregon High School in June of 2017. He was currently a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studying Actuarial Science. Matt was a member of the UW Men's Club Basketball team his sophomore and junior year and a member of the UW-Madison Actuarial Club. He enjoyed playing basketball, soccer, being outdoors, and being with his friends.
Matt is survived by his parents; and his sister, Megan Pearson (23).
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be gifted in Matt’s name to the Oregon Athletic Boosters or UW Madison Emergency Student Support Fund.
Oregon Athletic Boosters: http://oregonboosters.com
Go to the Donations section on the home page (not the top tab). It will say click HERE to donate. In the notes field please write “Matt Pearson” or “The Pearson Family.” You may also mail checks, payable to Oregon Athletic Booster Club, with Matt’s name in the memo to:
Oregon High School
Attn: Athletic Booster Club
456 N. Perry Parkway
Oregon, WI 53575
UW Madison Emergency Student Support Fund: https://secure.supportuw.org/give/?id=92f2a6f5-f201-4ebd-94a7-53b2cc0215ab&custom=cho01
This is a fund to help financially vulnerable students due to Covid-19 or other unforeseen events. More Information on the fund can be found at: https://financialaid.wisc.edu/
A celebration of Matt’s life will be held at a later date. Please visit www.gundersonfh.com for updates as they become available and we encourage you to share your online condolences with Matt’s family. Video posts have reached maximum capacity, please share any videos you have of Matt on other social media platforms.
Gunderson Oregon
Funeral & Cremation Care
1150 Park Street
(608) 835-3515
Events
There are no events for Matthew yet.
Photos
Memories
MK
Marla Kotesky
Other •
My dearest Matthew, my brother. There are no words. It has been 4 years since I last saw you, & before this, it was okay. I understood that you were busy with basketball, but that made you happy & that was okay with me. Now, it saddens my heart because the next time I see you will be in Heaven. I was so privileged to have known you. I love you more than ever & I will miss you more than words can say. I am so blessed that you gave Grayson your beloved train set. We will be playing with it on your birthday, every year, just for you. I will cherish those tracks for the rest of my life. I love you Matthew. Rest in peace.
DW
Danica Westrich
Other •
i spent 10 weeks with matt on a mission the summer of 2019. we worked on the same team & spent a lot of time together. one of my favorite memories was when we went out sharing & ended up just talking the whole time. he was someone i could be 100% honest with. i was able to visit madison a couple times in the fall to see him & other friends & was planning on spending more time with him when i move there next month (which was partially matt’s idea). i will miss matt dearly. i am so sorry for your loss & i will be praying for comfort during this time. -dani westrich
CF
Casey Farner
Other •
While everyone on the club basketball team is lucky enough to have memories with Matt, one moment stands out in my head. In my eyes, Matt was the most talented player on the team. I fully believe that he could have played on the actual basketball team on campus. With that said, it so often felt like he hardly needed to exert any effort when he was playing. He would glide through the lane and float into the basket without even breaking a sweat. However, there was one moment in a practice at the NAT where he fully sprinted like a maniac after a loose ball and I do not know if I have ever laughed harder. It truly was a sight to behold: arms churning, scowl on his face that had never appeared before, and legs flailing rapidly as he set his eyes on obtaining the basketball in the most meaningless of all meaningless pickup games. But that was Matt. The games we played without scoreboards and referees still meant everything to him because he genuinely loved the game and loved who he was playing it with. As I sat next to Tianen watching Matt in that moment, I knew that neither of us would ever forget it. An unforgettable moment of pure bliss provided by an unforgettable person. I love you, Matt.
BS
Beverly Shinneman
Other •
We loved making your t-shirt quilt and being at your high school graduation party. I really enjoyed watching you play basketball and wish I would have been able to see you more often. Love, Aunt Bev
LN
Linda Nedelcoff
Other •
Sending our deepest sympathies to the entire Pearson family We are so fortunate to have been blessed with Matt and his beautiful soul and his generous sense of humor. We so enjoyed watching him play basketball through the years. Thank you for sharing him with us. Sending our love and thoughts to you all. The Nedelcoff family
WS
William Sanford
Other •
Dear Pearson Family, It is with a heavy heart that I send my condolences to you. As the class president of OHS in 2015 and a fellow Badger at UW-Madison in Cru, I had the pleasure of getting to know Matt over our summer 2019 mission trip to North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. While Matt was a man of few words, I did enjoy doing lots of activities with him including playing spike ball on the beach, doing a scavenger hunt, & having ”deeper” evenings where men gathered together to learn about Christ & share our feelings. He was always respectful of me and often made me laugh with his stark demeanor and jokes. Rest assured as he is now with the King of Kings. Matt will be missed. In Christ, William Sanford