He chose to be a difference maker. His confidence, passion and loyalty helped make the difference. Scott Matzka may be honest to a fault, but his no-nonsense approach and his strike-by-chance approach to life smooth the personality trait a bit. He maintained his sarcastic style with a dry sense of humor until the end of his life. And though he had a stubborn side, he learned to see the compassion of others in his time of need. Scott was a caring husband, a loving father, and loved by many. He was also an incredible inspiration to all.
Scott began life in 1978, a year in which many recreational facilities made their debut. Garfield became a widely known household name with families reading newspapers. John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John became America’s favorite screen couple with “Grease,” while “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” had people shaking their shoes at the local drive-in. About 98% of American households owned at least one television, which was almost guaranteed to show the sitcom “Happy Days,” with its catchy song that ends with “Happy Days to You and Yours.” are mine.”
In Port Huron, Richard and Suzanne (Vickerson) Metzka were looking forward to happy days as their second child’s birthday approached. They welcomed Scott on May 11th, just before Mother’s Day. Scott had the good fortune of being the middle child as well as having both an older brother and a younger sister. Her siblings, Laura and Daniel, helped shape a childhood filled with activity and memories. The family spent quality time at the cottage in Grand Bend, Ontario as the children grew up. They enjoyed the beauty of Lake Huron and the opportunity it provided for great adventure and exploration.
Starting early with athletic prowess, Scott practically grew up on snow skis. This was especially encouraged because his father owned a ski shop. As fate took its natural course, Scott zeroed in on his brother’s ice time at the hockey rink. Although he was good at skiing, once he got his feet on ice skates, the sport was obviously a natural fit for him.
Hockey soon became his way of life. By the time he got to Port Huron Northern High School, he was ready to be the best. For his senior year, he traveled to Omaha, Nebraska to play with the Omaha Lancers. Although he graduated from Port Huron Northern High School in 1996, he returned to Omaha to continue playing there. While at Nebraska, his dream of attending the University of Michigan became a reality when he was recruited for their hockey team. From 1998 to 2001, he enjoyed some of the best years of his hockey career at the U of M. In fact, he experienced the joy of assisting on the game-winning goal to win the NCAA National Championship in overtime. Of course, Scott was equally active in his studies, even pursuing goals to earn a degree in computer science off the ice.
In his lifetime, Scott was on the ice professionally for a total of eleven years. Two of those years were in the United States, but his talents have also taken him to international hockey rinks. He played in Europe for 9 years, and lived in 5 different countries while doing so. His positions included left wing and center. Additionally, he was a player-coach of a team in Europe.
Although all this hockey business took up a lot of Scott’s time, nothing was going to stand in his way when he met the woman he would eventually call his wife. Scott came to Kalamazoo to visit a childhood friend who played at Western. During the visit, he was completely captivated by his new acquaintance named Katie Lewis. During their first meeting, they spent hours talking and laughing until 7 the next morning. After that, Katie was no longer just an acquaintance, but the one he wanted in his life forever. He wasn’t shy about it either, as he strong-armed himself into his life and confidently shared that he knew they were meant to be together.
However, despite the abundance of love, his hockey life determined his direction in life. The two maintained a long-distance relationship for 2 years as Scott returned to Denmark to play. Finally, the two plan a ceremony with a commitment to finally be together forever. Their commitment to Love was made official on June 8, 2007 by a Justice of the Peace in Mount Pleasant. While it was definitely a time to celebrate their love, it was also a tender time as Katie’s mother was dying of breast cancer. The day was special in every way, becoming a moment shared with loved ones that can never be forgotten.
The newlyweds moved to Denmark and went on all sorts of adventures together. They soaked up the sights, traveled, and shopped. They enjoyed each other’s company very much and cherished this early time in their marriage. Soon, they discover that a new adventure awaits them: parenthood! While in Sweden, they celebrated the birth of their daughter Reese Elisabeth (2009). In Wales, a few years later, the family was completed with the birth of their son, Owen Scott (2012). Scott was a super dad – changed more diapers than imaginable, cooked for the family, and worked tirelessly to keep his house in good working order inside and out. He would do anything for Reese and Owen.
While his family was growing, Scott continued his studies abroad. He studied at Cardiff University where he did his MBA and graduated with distinction. He played his last year of hockey the same year Owen was born.
The Matzka family returned to America, and Scott took a job with Maestro as a sales ambassador. This brought them to Kalamazoo. He enjoyed it there and appreciated the fun atmosphere and relaxed working environment. In time, he changed career paths to work as a consultant for the Phoenix Group. No matter where he worked or played, Scott gave 100% in everything he did. He’ll hammer things out, keep it all organized, and see it through to the end without exception (he’s even left behind a spreadsheet that needs to be addressed on a daily basis). is).
After about three years of working for the Phoenix Group, Scott was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and went on disability. However, his work was nowhere close. In fact, he was just beginning perhaps his most important work yet. Because he had a Type A personality, he faced this new health challenge with as much determination as he had faced any other in his life.
ALS is a fatal diagnosis, and Scott knows it as soon as he hears the doctor say three letters. However, he never lived his life with regret, laziness, or uncertainty. Instead of meeting this moment in her life with defeat, she decided to do everything in her power to stand up and make a difference. He helped create “My Turn,” an organization dedicated to helping spread awareness about the disease.
Besides trying to be the best husband and father, friend and son, he set his mind on focusing on giving a reason to fight for his life. “My Turn” became his guiding light and reason to get out of bed in the morning. “My Turn” is Scott’s lasting legacy in this world. In his desire to bring awareness, he actually did a lot. She inspired us to see that the world is full of compassion and love if we are only willing to open ourselves to it.
Scott’s children are also part of his lasting legacy, as he tried to teach them as much as he could about life. He wanted them to understand the importance of purpose and humility. He left them with his best friend knowing that she would continue to teach him the same values. Her concern for Katie and her children never faltered even when she faced declining health.
Sadly, Scott lived his life with incredible strength until he took his last breath. He died at Rose Arbor Hospice on December 16th after 5 years of living a full life with ALS. In his forty years of life, he certainly played all the shifts with full vigor and determination. As we reflect on the memories we shared with Scott, we can also take comfort in knowing that his spirit lives on in our hearts forever. Scott believed that we all have a choice in life: live life with love and laughter – not sadness and regret. Stand up and make a difference and do it in Scott’s memory. This is his last assist in this championship game called life.
Scott was preceded in death by his mother-in-law, Mary Lewis; Surviving are his wife of 11 years, Katie Matzka; 2 children: Reese Elizabeth (9) and Owen Scott (6); 2 siblings: Laura (David) Wickens and Daniel Pink; Parents: Dick and Sue Metzka; father-in-law: Pat (Tami) Lewis; Honorary sister: Jessica Mosier (Robert Klass), and many aunts, uncles and cousins. Burial will follow. A time of sharing will be held Wednesday at 5 PM at Betzler Life Story Funeral Home, 6080 Stadium Dr. in Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900 followed by a reception in the Life Story Center. Services will be held at Center Point Church (2345 N. 10th St.) Thursday at 5 p.m. Please visit Scott’s personal web page at www.BetzlerFuneralHome.com, where you can read his story, save a favorite memory or photo and sign his online guest book before coming to the funeral home. are Memorial donations may be made to the My Turn Project Fund c/o Susan Mast ALS Foundation.
