Matthew Herman Classen

Matthew H Classen was born on February 12, 1933 in Charleston AR to Frank and Laurine (Gromlich) Classen and he passed away at age 92 on May 10, 2025 at Cox Hospital in Springfield, MO.
Due to health reasons, Matt was not able to attend college as planned after high school. He secured a job as a messenger at The First National Bank in Fort Smith AR...thus beginning a 52 year banking career. He quickly advanced to become a National Bank Examiner in Kansas City. While bank examining he met the love of his life Mary Kay Warren and they were united in marriage on August 26, 1956 and celebrated over 68 years of marriage
In 1963 he purchased controlling interest in The Marion National Bank in Marion KS. He became President and CEO which was a position he held until retiring in 2002. At the age of 30 the publication Bank News named Matt as the youngest bank president in Kansas. During his many years in his beloved Marion, Matt was very active in many organizations serving as a board member and president of the Marion Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, Marion Country Club, and St. Luke's Hospital. Matt was also very active in the St. Marks/Holy Family Catholic Church. Matt also held many board positions in the Kansas State Bankers Association. Matt Classen had many interests in life. First being his family and friends. Matt did not know a stranger or at least not for long. He loved discussing finance, banking, current events, farming, ranching, and all sports including his beloved Kansas City Chiefs, Royals and Kansas State sports teams. He personally enjoyed and excelled in golf and tennis.
Survivors include his wife Mary Kay of Springfield, MO, son Michael (Angela) Classen of Grand Junction, CO, daughter Sherry (Dr. James) Bureman of Springfield, MO. Grandchildren, James Thorpe (Camay) of Kansas City, MO, Kari Ann Classen of Wichita, KS, USMC Major Chase Bureman, (Kate) Bureman of Wilmington NC, and Kirsten Bureman of San Francisco CA along with 3 great-grandchildren Daniel and Liam Thorpe and Aiden Bureman.
Funeral Mass will be on Saturday, May 17 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church (htscatholic.com) in Springfield under the direction of Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home (gormanscharpf.com). Mass will begin at 11:30 with visitation from 10:45-11:15. The church's address is 2818 E. Bennett St., Springfield MO 65804
Memorials can be made to Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri located at 424 E Monastery St. Springfield MO 65807 (ccsomo.org) or Ozark Food Harvest located at 2810 N Cedarbrook Ave, Springfield, MO 65803 (ozarksfoodharvest.org).
The Memorial Slideshow can be viewed here.