Obituary for Joseph Matheis
Joseph Gerard Matheis, age 56, of Erie, PA closed his eyes and sailed off into the sunrise on Sunday morning, June 9, 2019 at the Cleveland Clinic due to complications from the lung disease PPFE. Joe was a two year lung transplant survivor who was born in Erie, PA on June 4, 1963.
He was the son of William C. and Carol L. (Trapp) Matheis. In addition to his parents, Joe is survived by his beloved wife of 18 years, Jeanne Stebnisky and her daughter, Terra L. Huber. Joe is also survived by four brothers, William C. (Lori) Matheis, Edward J. (Christine) Matheis, Stephen R. Matheis, Jeffrey F. Matheis and a sister, Lisa A. (Stephen) Thelin and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Joe attended St. George Grade School, Fort LeBoeuf High School, Gannon University earning a Bachelor of Arts and Philosophy degree with an Associate degree in Mechanical Engineering and graduating Magna Cum Laud, St. Mark Seminary and Christ the King Seminary graduating with a Masters of Divinity degree.
Joe enlisted in the U.S. Navy and graduated first in his class from the Navy machinery repairman school in San Diego. He received the post of his choice, the submarine repair facility in Groton, Connecticut. He was a Machinery Repairman First Class, rising to the rank of Lieutenant JG. In the Naval Reserves, he was a chaplain’s candidate. Upon discharge from the Navy, Joe worked in different machine shops around Erie. Joe spent many years with Peterson Towing as Pete’s fabrication man, including designing and manufacturing tow truck bodies. Joe retired from the Department of Labor as an unemployment claims examiner.
As an avid animal lover, he spent many hours with his pets, whether it was his boyhood dog or later in life, his cats. Joe loved watching murder mysteries with Jeanne and got his family hooked on them. One of Joe’s favorite pastimes was reading. He loved knowledge and the pursuit of it. He thoroughly and completely researched everything that he did before making a judgment or decision.
Family and friends may call at the Kloecker Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 2502 Sassafras Street, Erie, PA 16502 on Thursday from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and are invited to the Funeral Mass on Friday at 1:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Peace Church, 2401 West 38th Street, Erie, PA 16506. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cleveland Clinic or charity of one’s choice. For donations to the Cleveland Clinic, please send a check made payable to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and note Joseph G. Matheis and Lung Transplant Program in the check’s memo line. Please send to Cleveland Clinic Philanthropy Institute, PO Box 931517, Cleveland, OH 44193-1655.
He was the son of William C. and Carol L. (Trapp) Matheis. In addition to his parents, Joe is survived by his beloved wife of 18 years, Jeanne Stebnisky and her daughter, Terra L. Huber. Joe is also survived by four brothers, William C. (Lori) Matheis, Edward J. (Christine) Matheis, Stephen R. Matheis, Jeffrey F. Matheis and a sister, Lisa A. (Stephen) Thelin and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Joe attended St. George Grade School, Fort LeBoeuf High School, Gannon University earning a Bachelor of Arts and Philosophy degree with an Associate degree in Mechanical Engineering and graduating Magna Cum Laud, St. Mark Seminary and Christ the King Seminary graduating with a Masters of Divinity degree.
Joe enlisted in the U.S. Navy and graduated first in his class from the Navy machinery repairman school in San Diego. He received the post of his choice, the submarine repair facility in Groton, Connecticut. He was a Machinery Repairman First Class, rising to the rank of Lieutenant JG. In the Naval Reserves, he was a chaplain’s candidate. Upon discharge from the Navy, Joe worked in different machine shops around Erie. Joe spent many years with Peterson Towing as Pete’s fabrication man, including designing and manufacturing tow truck bodies. Joe retired from the Department of Labor as an unemployment claims examiner.
As an avid animal lover, he spent many hours with his pets, whether it was his boyhood dog or later in life, his cats. Joe loved watching murder mysteries with Jeanne and got his family hooked on them. One of Joe’s favorite pastimes was reading. He loved knowledge and the pursuit of it. He thoroughly and completely researched everything that he did before making a judgment or decision.
Family and friends may call at the Kloecker Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 2502 Sassafras Street, Erie, PA 16502 on Thursday from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and are invited to the Funeral Mass on Friday at 1:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Peace Church, 2401 West 38th Street, Erie, PA 16506. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cleveland Clinic or charity of one’s choice. For donations to the Cleveland Clinic, please send a check made payable to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and note Joseph G. Matheis and Lung Transplant Program in the check’s memo line. Please send to Cleveland Clinic Philanthropy Institute, PO Box 931517, Cleveland, OH 44193-1655.