John Benjamin Matheson III

On the morning of July 27, 2023, surrounded by the love of his family, John Benjamin Matheson III passed away peacefully after complications from a recent fall. He was 78 years old.
John was born on a military base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on October 22, 1944, during the height of World War II. He was the oldest of four children and the first son born to Mary Graff Matheson and John Benjamin Matheson Jr. Shortly after his birth, his father deployed to Germany, and John spent the first three years of his life in the care of his mother, aunts, and grandparents.
John spent his formative years in Salt Lake City, Utah, and fondly remembered time spent with cousins on family trips and with neighborhood friends. With a quick wit and a memory for facts, he excelled in debate and student leadership at East High. He enjoyed athletics in his youth, including baseball, wrestling, skiing, and tennis.
John's faith was a guiding light throughout his life. During the early 1960s, he embarked on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in central Germany, where he saw history come alive. His ancestors' deep roots in the church only strengthened his conviction, and he embraced every opportunity to share his love for it.
After his mission, John's journey led him to the University of Utah, where he joined ROTC and briefly served as an Intelligence Officer during the Vietnam War. He would go on to receive a Master's Degree in Human Resources in preparation for an eventual career as a stockbroker at Dean Witter Reynolds and, later, Charles Schwab.
In 1968, fate smiled upon John when his sister introduced him to Linda Clare Healy, a striking blonde who seemed straight out of a Beach Boys song. They married in 1969 and embarked on an adventure that eventually led them back to the vibrant world of California music and culture in the San Francisco Bay Area.
John and Linda's joy grew as they were blessed with four wonderful children, whom he endearingly referred to (to their mild embarrassment and others' amusement) as "four angels born in the '70s." Each child inherited John's sense of humor and love of storytelling.
John was a man of simple tastes and pleasures. He enjoyed dining at a handful of East Bay restaurants despite any posted health code violations. He loved to reflect on his early adulthood and had a deep appreciation of music ranging from his treasured Rolling Stones to Motown and Outlaw Country.
John's greatest joy was conversing with others. He could take the simplest tale and turn it into an epic saga, making everyone in his inner circle "legendary," "brilliant," and "beautiful" in his eyes. You had to be careful with first impressions because he had a mind for details and would often share those details at every subsequent encounter.
In his world, John had "choice friends" and "archrivals." Thankfully, with time, the archrivals mellowed. He was effusive in praising the caregivers and friends who took an interest in his well-being over the years. Though he faced his share of challenges, losing Linda to cancer and undergoing a kidney transplant, through it all, he maintained a positive attitude, never losing his gratitude for life.
John leaves behind a family that loved him: his siblings, Matty Branch, Bri Matheson, and Mark Matheson, and his children, John "Jay" Matheson IV, Lisa Matheson Sherman, Brooke Matheson Memmott, Annie Barkhuff, their spouses, and 12 delightful grandchildren.
A private graveside service will honor John at Oakmont Memorial Park on Friday, August 4, 2023. Later that day, friends and family are invited to an informal Open House from 6:30-8:00 PM at 827 Hamilton Dr, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, to celebrate his life with joy, laughter, and the warmth of shared memories.
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