Matthew Oliver McGown

1977 - 2019

McGown, Matthew Oliver Age 41, of Findlay, Ohio, born to life May 29, 1977 and born to Eternal Life January 11, 2019 after an 18 month-long battle with Myelodysplastic Syndrome. Matthew was born in Saginaw, Michigan to John and Rosanne (Butler) McGown and raised in Midland, Michigan with a few childhood years spent in Zurich, Switzerland. He married the love of his life, Emily Chambers, on December 10, 2016. She was his devoted advocate and caregiver for the last 18 months as they fought his disease head on. In addition to his wife and his parents, Matthew is survived by his brother Andrew McGown (Elizabeth Grum) of Brookfield, Wisconsin and his sister Megan McGown Holms (James Holms) of Dublin, Ireland; his mother-in-law and father-in-law Debbie and Jeff Chambers; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Meghan and Servando Benitez, and Lindley and Jake Pagels; his dear nieces and nephews Samuel McGown, Molly McGown, Annie McGown, Jacob McGown, and Madeline McGown; and by a close-knit group of loving uncles, aunts, cousins, and countless friends. He was preceded in death by his uncle, David Butler and by his grandparents John and Ruth McGown and Oliver and Rose Butler. Matthew graduated from Midland High School in 1995, Grand Valley State University in 1999 with a B.B.A. in Accounting, and Case Western Reserve University in 2002 with an M.B.A in Finance and an M.S. in Information Systems. He was employed at Cooper Tire in Findlay, Ohio as Manager of Financial Accounting. Faced 18 months ago with a daunting diagnosis, Matthew met the future with determination, courage, and optimism, touching all with his generous heart and bravery. His family would like to thank the countless numbers of doctors, nurses, and support staff at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and University of Washington Hospital, the staff at the Pete Gross House in Seattle, WA and the legion of prayer warriors who supported him throughout his illness. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. January 18 at Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Home. A funeral liturgy will be held at 11:00 a.m. January 19, 2019 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church with Father Jack Johnson and Father Peter Gaspeny co-presiding. Matthew's family will receive friends at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of service. An additional visitation will be held from 4:00p.m.-7:00p.m. January 21, 2019 at Schmidt & Bartelt Funeral Home, 10121 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa, WI. The subsequent funeral liturgy will be held at 10 a.m. January 22, 2019 at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church in Wauwatosa, WI with Father Charlie Conley presiding. Burial next to his maternal grandparents will follow in Wauwatosa Cemetery. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider Be The Match, The Leukemia And Lymphoma Society, or Pete Gross House in Seattle, WA.