Matthew P. Briggs

Matthew Paul Briggs, age 56, of Howard City, passed away on Thursday, January 22, 2026, following a handful of illnesses. He was born on June 15, 1969, in Muskegon, Michigan, son of Jack Edward and Patricia Jean (DeJager) Briggs. He attended Portland area schools and had a passion for driving as a semi-truck driver for many years. He worked for several long-haul freight companies and even took the leap of faith to become an owner/operator when he bought his red Pete. It wasn’t only the roar of his truck that he loved as he enjoyed walking and maintaining his property with his dog (Jasmin). Sometimes he wanted a “quieter” pace and went for a “leisurely” ride in his Corvette. He collected guns and enjoyed shooting for fun. In more recent years, he had taken a keen interest in 3-D printing techniques and loved to experiment with designing and home improvement projects. Throughout his life he had been a tinkerer and could spend hours on end in his workshops.

Matt will be missed by his dear parents Jack and Patricia Briggs of Arizona; children Michael Secord of Georgia, Nathan (Kassandra Walcott) Secord of Grand Rapids, Amanda (Alex) Jimmerson of Kentwood, and Dakota (Garrett) VandenHout of Lowell; grandchildren Nolan, Aria, Adalynn, and Micah; a sister Laurel (Russell) VanTassell of California and a niece and a nephew; plus many “dear” friends.

Memorial arrangements are pending and will be updated to this site when confirmed. For additional information, please contact Verdun Family Funeral Home at (616) 794-1300 or verdunfuneralhome@att.net.