Jerry Mathena

SEPTEMBER 24th, 1935 - January 18th, 2018



loved father, Grandpa The Great and friend, Jerry died



peacefully with his daughter Lori & grandchildren



Shaelyn, Courtney, and Katelyn by his side, at age 82.



The way he died is just like he lived: he wrote his own



rules, and he paved his own way even right up to his



last day. And if you said he couldn't do it, he would



make sure he could. Most people thought he was



crazy for living life full speed most of his life; but



instead with a smile, sense of humor, and stunning



blue eyes that could make anyone fall in love with him.



He would prove to them he could do it. He was the



type of man that people would drive many hours at the



drop of a hat to come see.



He lived 1000 years in the 82 calendar years we had



with him because he attacked life; he grabbed it by the



horns. Throughout his life, he was an accomplished



hunter and an excellent shooter, bbq master,



fisherman, frisbee player. Jerry did not live an average



life. He traveled where he wanted to travel, laughed



and loved to play jokes at every chance he got.



He enjoyed many, many things. Among those things



were hunting, fishing, hiking, chopping wood, shooting



guns, taking pictures, water fights, The History



Channel, war movies, and he read what he wanted to



read, and loved who he wanted to love and above all,



his family and friends. He was also an amazing and a



fanatical detailer of his automobiles.



Jerry loved his family and friends, sweets, the



outdoors and beautiful women, .. and not necessarily



in that order. He hated to be late and But he loved to



tell stories, and you could be sure 99 percent of every



story was true.



JERRY was a stylish, yet, practical man. He dressed in



the fashion with pants starched and pressed and had



a collection of stylish hats, yet could often be found



wearing the latest t-shirt with a pocket from The Fruit



of the Loom. And sayings on the t shirt to make you



laugh at him. And always a baseball cap.



He was someone who had a love of life and a firm



understanding of what was important - the simplicity



of living a life with those you love. Although he threw



some of the most memorable parties during the



greater half of a century, he would trade it all for a night



in front of the fire in the mountains with his family and



friends .



His acute awareness of the importance of a life lived



with the ones you love over any material possession.



He had an amazing giving and caring personality and



he would give the shirt off his back to a stranger.



Jerry was an Iron worker for 25 + years. And was proud



to me a union member of local 27. He helped build



many of the amazing buildings, bridges and power



plants we see around the western United States.



He also was a logger in his early years. Jerry attended



school in Price Utah and California.



Jerry proudly served in United States Army from 1958-



1962 as a Sergeant. And traveled the world. And lived



in many countries. But ended up were he started his



life, in Emery County. He loved it and he called it home.



We would like to thank the many doctors and nurses



and Timpanogos Hospital. And the Maple Creek Home



Health & Hospice. Christine and Charity were amazing



and my dad looked forward to their visits.



We would also like to thanks Legacy Mortuary in



Spanish Fork. They helped make this process a little



easier.



And to all our friends, family & neighbors, you were a



blessing. Thank you so much. I truly could not have



done this without you.



Cremation took take place through Legacy Funerals & Cremations.



Jerry is survived by is son Danny Mathena, Micheal



golay. And daughters Christina Gatto, Lori Mathena Wilson



(Court), Amity Mathena Larsen. His sister



Virginia Mae Twitchell (Charlie) grandchildren:



Shaelyn, Courtney, Katelyn, Branden Corey, Jessica



Jaime, Anthony, Danny Jr., Aidan, Jaxon and many



great grandchildren, and nieces/ nephews. Also many



friends he called family. Everyone loved him dearly.



He is preceded in death by his parents Albert Utah



Mathena and Virginia Hancock Mathena. Brothers



Ross and Albert. Sister Wanda.



Everyone who remembers him is asked to celebrate



Jerry's life in their own way; raising a glass of your



favorite beverage in his memory would be quite



appropriate.



There will be a graveside service at the Springville City



Cemetery, Friday, February 9th, 2018 at noon. Address



is 400 south 200 west Springville Utah