Matthew Schmitz

Matthew (Matt) Thomas Schmitz, 41, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 15th, 2024, in Denver, Colorado.

Matt was born on September 15, 1983, in Salina, Kansas and grew up in Abilene, Kansas. He was the son of Leonard and Chadra (Wilson) Schmitz of Abilene. Matt was a graduate of Abilene High School and attended the University of Kansas where he graduated with a degree in biology.

After Matt graduated from KU, he moved to Kansas City and worked for Cerner Corporation as a pharmacy IT consultant and in sales. It was at Cerner where he met the love of his life, Suzie Hsieh. He continued to work as a pharmacy IT consultant for the remainder of his career.

On June 6, 2015, Matt and Suzie married in Kansas City, Missouri. Matt and Suzie lived in the Kansas City area until 2020 and then moved to Seattle, Washington. In June 2021, Matt and Suzie moved to Littleton, Colorado to be closer to family and live near the mountains. Matt and Suzie welcomed their first child in August 2021, a son named Parker Hsieh Schmitz, and then welcomed a second son in October 2023, Owen Hsieh Schmitz.

Matt and Suzie traveled to many places in the world together and had looked forward to a travel-filled future together with their boys. Matt’s favorite travel destinations were Greece, Colombia, and Crested Butte, Colorado. He was eager to take his boys to visit the ocean and a beach for their first time.

Amongst Matt’s many passions included cars – anyone who knew Matt knew of his love for cars. He was notorious for having a new vehicle on a yearly basis (sometimes more frequently than that) and rarely missed a Sunday Formula One race. One of his dreams was to attend an F-1 race someday. He also loved to take Parker to a monthly car show in the summer.

Matt loved the outdoors and being active. He loved his family’s weekend visits to the mountains and being outside in sunny Denver. He loved to be in the mountains to go for a hike or go fly-fishing. Even if just for a few minutes, he always made sure to spend time outdoors each day.

Matt loved hosting family and friends at his home and smoking his famous ribs for guests, especially when there was a Chiefs or KU game on to watch. Matt loved animals, especially his cat Oliver, who Matt picked out from KC Pet Project and convinced Suzie that the cat had to come home.

Matt was always so upbeat and positive; he had a way of befriending those who were in need of friendship. He could make anyone laugh with his silliness and antics – a true kid at heart. He was incredibly quick-witted – there was always a comeback for everything. And he had a way of changing the verses to songs to the point where the original words could never be remembered as Matt’s version was always much more catchy.

More than anything else in the world, Matt loved his two sons, his wife, and his family dearly. Matt was an amazing father, husband, brother and son who wanted nothing more than to watch his boys grow up and always be with them. He loved his boys fiercely with his whole heart.

Matt is survived by: wife of 9.5 years, Suzie, and their two children, Parker and Owen, of Littleton, CO; parents Leonard and Chadra Schmitz of Abilene, KS; grandmother Phyllis Wilson of Abilene, KS; sister Jessica of Olathe, KS, and her husband Brian; nieces Savannah, Hazel, and Ruth; brother Jeremiah of Abilene, KS, and nieces Hannah and Madelin.

He was preceded in death by grandparents Irene and Ken Schmitz of Salina, KS; grandfather Thomas Wilson of Abilene, KS; uncles Ron and Galen Schmitz; uncle Jeff Wilson of Abilene, KS.

To celebrate Matt’s life, there will be a visitation on Friday, December 27, 2024 from 4-6pm at the Martin Becker Carlson funeral home (414 NW Third Street, Abilene, KS) and a funeral service on Saturday, December 28, 2024 at 2pm at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church (311 S Buckeye Ave, Abilene, KS).

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Community Foundation of Dickinson County in memory of Matthew Schmitz (201 NW 2nd Street, Suite B, Abilene, KS 67410).