Eugene “Geno” "Matty" H. Mathes

Eugene “Geno” “Matty” H. Mathes, age 90 passed away peacefully on Friday, December 29, 2023, following a short illness. He was born April 6, 1933, in Markesan, WI, one of seven children born to Herman and Susie (nee Barrett) Mathes. He proudly served in the United States Navy as a Navy Corpsman from 1951 until 1955 during the Korean War. Gene graduated in 1960 from La Crosse State University. He was a physical education teacher at Ethan Allen Boys School in Wales for 30 years. He was also the head basketball coach from 1960 until 1990. Gene was also excited to have been an umpire for little league baseball for 13 years. Following retirement from Ethan Allen, Gene was a parking attendant for the Milwaukee Brewers for 13 years and also worked security at Kettle Moraine High School from 1991 to 2004 as well as at the Bradley Center.

Gene was an incredibly special and wonderful man who loved his family and friends. He was humble, kind, and generous, who always had a contagious smile, joyous disposition, and a great sense of humor. He was an avid sports fan of the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks, the Green Bay Packers, and the Wisconsin Badgers. Lifelong interests in addition to sports included playing cards, especially bridge and sheepshead, reading the daily newspaper, working the USA Today crossword puzzle as well as shopping. He was a longtime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

He will be sadly missed by his faithful and loving wife of 55 years, Elizabeth “Betsy” (nee Russ) and their two children, Mary Beth Mathes and Ann (Jack) Yuhas. He is the loving “papa” to Taylor Yuhas, Austin Yuhas and Autumn Yuhas and proud great grandpa to Sophia Yuhas. In addition to parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, from 11:30 a.m. until the 12:30 p.m. funeral Mass at St. Mary Catholic Church 225 S. Hartwell Ave. Waukesha, WI 53186. Full military honors will follow the Mass. Interment will be at St. Joseph Cemetery. If desired, memorials are appreciated to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Rawhide Youth Services or Paralyzed Veterans of America.