GLENDIVE - Private Matthew Thomas Zeimer, age 18, of Glendive, passed away Friday, Feb. 2, 2007, due to wounds he suffered in enemy fire in Ramadi, the capital of Al Anbar in central Iraq. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.
A wake service will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glendive. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 12, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glendive. Interment with military honors will be held in the Dawson County Cemetery in Glendive. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive is entrusted with arrangements.
Matthew was born Aug. 31, 1988, in Miles City, the son of Thomas and Janet (Zeimer) Epperson. Matt was raised and educated in Wibaux and Glendive schools, graduating from Dawson County High School in Glendive with the class of 2006. While in high school, Matt was involved with "Jobs for Montana Graduates." Upon his graduation, Matt entered the United States Army, participating in a home town recruiting program. Matt was deployed to Iraq in January 2007, where he remained until the time of his death.
As a young boy, Matt was a member of the Boy Scouts and had participated in junior high football. He always enjoyed agate hunting with his "Nanny" and big game hunting with his Pop-pop, Dad and Uncle Mike.
Survivors include his mom and dad, Janet Seymour and her husband Ned of Glendive; his father, Thomas Epperson of Connecticut; a twin sister, Tonya Zeimer of Glendive; and three sisters, Jessica Epperson, Jamie O'Neil and Sara O'Neil, all of Glendive; his maternal grandparents, Barbara "Nanny" Guldin of Wibaux and Walter "Pop-pop" Zeimer Sr. of Wibaux; paternal grandmother, Gina Epperson of Connecticut; his fiancee, Stephanie Gallegos of El Paso, Texas; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silvernale-silhafuneralhome.com.
This obituary was originally published in the Billings Gazette.
