Matthew Spears

1940 - 2025

Matthew Carmi Spears, 85, of Albion, passed away on Dec. 4, 2025, at the Henry Ford Hospice House in Jackson, Michigan.
He was born Feb. 8, 1940, to Clarence and Mary Katherine (Ozanich) Spears in Lansing, Michigan. Matt first met MaryLou Shaw in the third grade, when he came to Albion and started school. Their first interaction they remember was when MaryLou was acting as playground monitor, scolded Matt for swinging too high on the swings. They started dating in 1958 and got married in Albion at the Episcopal church on Sept. 30, 1961. They would have celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary this year. MaryLou unexpectedly passed away on May 11, 2025, and Matt missed her terribly.
Matt owned his own barbershop in Albion before learning the dry cleaning business and managing a few Martinizing Dry Cleaners in Lansing. In 1973, he then opened his own dry cleaners in Albion with MaryLou, appropriately named Spears Cleaner World. Matt later bought and renovated the old Rusty Hinge bar and opened Superior Street Station downtown Albion. It was a family friendly bar that served the best bar burger and MaryLou's chili. After selling the bar, Matt opened another dry cleaners in Coldwater. After the Coldwater store was sold, Matt suffered a brain aneurism and underwent brain surgery to clip off the problem. After recovery, Matt and MaryLou decided to slow down, so they sold the Albion dry cleaners. Matt, not one to be idle, renovated another building in Albion and put in a one chair barbershop, Top Knotch Barbershop. They then started to make monthly trips up north during the summer months. Matt worked at his barbershop until Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025.
If you knew Matt, you knew of Engadine. His grandparents had come to America from Croatia, and he was so proud of his heritage. He lived in Engadine before his family moved to Albion. It was always a special place where he loved to go and take his family and friends. The guys he took deer hunting and sucker fishing there made many memories and trips to the Pine Bar. At a young age, he taught himself to play the accordion and later, when the polka bands he played with needed a banjo player, he taught himself to play that with some help from a friend. Matt always had a twinkle in his eye and you never knew what he was up to. He was a prankster who had a new joke for you whenever he saw you.
Matt is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Catherine Mary and Scott Gindlesberger and Papa's best friend Joshua Gindlesberger. His brother-in-law, Dennis Shaw, and cousins and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother, his wife MaryLou, and a grandson, Jacob Gindlesberger.
Visitation will be on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, from 9-11 a.m., with a Memorial Service starting at 11 a.m. at Kempf Family Funeral & Cremation Services, Marshall, Michigan.
Those wishing to make a memorial contribution in memory of Matt may do so to the Henry Ford Hospice Home-Jackson or to a charity of one's choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services. Please visit https://www.kempffuneralhome.com to view the online obituary, to sign the online guestbook, to share memories and pictures with the family.