Matthew Todd Rutherford

Age 39 of Coal City, Illinois, formerly of Woodridge, Illinois, died unexpectedly on Friday, February 2, 2024 at Morris Hospital.

Born November 15, 1984 in Hinsdale, Illinois, Matthew Todd is the son of Todd and Lynn (Fritsche) Rutherford. He was raised in Woodridge and graduated from Sandwich High School with the Class of 2003. Matthew attended Illinois Valley Community College where he completed Associate’s Degrees in networking communications and telecommunications. He worked in the technology field for several years until he decided to go into business for himself, founding Rutherford Designs, specializing in restoration and modification of cars and trucks. Matthew was able to live his dream of working on and restoring vehicles, including his passion project of restoring a 1993 Ford Mustang Cobra and a custom truck design highlighting awareness and support of the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, which was a cause near and dear to his heart.

He was a member of Island City Baptist Church in Wilmington, Illinois and the A.F. & A.M. Lodge 417 in Marseilles, Illinois, and in his spare time took great pleasure in watching movies, especially sci-fi films. Nothing was more important to Matthew than his family. He married December Joy Mayernik on December 12, 2015, and together they raised a wonderful family that he was so proud of. Matthew loved being able to share his passions with his family, and was known to say and encourage them that if you set your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.

Survivors include his parents, Todd and Lynn Rutherford of Marseilles, and his wife, December Rutherford of Coal City; four daughters, Katie Cristy, and Damona, Mortisha, and Novah Rutherford, and one step-son, Cristipher Gilliam; one brother, Kurt (Rebecca) Rutherford of Dover, Delaware; two uncles: Mark (Kathy) Fritsche of Maryland and Keith (Sherry) Rutherford of Ohio; his mother and father-in-law: Robert and Sherry Mayernik of DeMotte, Indiana; one brother-in-law, Brandon Mayernik of Carbondale, Illinois, and his niece and nephews: Cortana, Conner, and Emmett.

Matthew was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Walter and Irene Fritsche, and his paternal grandparents, Harry and Eleanor Rutherford.

The family will receive friends for a visitation at Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 East Kahler Road, in Wilmington on Friday, February 9, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. until the time of Masonic Rites at 7:30 p.m. Funeral services will follow at Island City Baptist Church, 120 Vine Street, in Wilmington on Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Pastor Jeff Logsdon will officiate, and cremation rites will be accorded following the funeral service.

In Lieu of Flowers, memorials may be made as gifts in Matthew’s memory to the family for their distribution.

Family and friends are encouraged to sign the online guest book, upload photographs, and share Matthew’s memorial page via social media.

Funeral services and cremation arrangements are being made under the direction and care of Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Homes and Crematory in Wilmington (815) 476-2181.