Klaus Herbert Matthes "Herb"

Herb went peacefully home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at the Toni and Trish House at the age of 85. He was born on August 6, 1939 to the late Herbert and Maria (Hille) Matthes in Eberswalde, Germany. At the young age of 10, he moved to Michigan with his family. After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree at General Motors Institute, he went on to work for Saginaw Steering Gear as a mechanical engineer for 33 years until retirement. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Frankenlust where he was an usher and scripture reader for many years.

He met the love of his life, Lois (Nagy), at LWML Retreat at the age of 18. Their 61 years together were full of love, laughter, and cherished memories that will never fade. Once he retired, they would spend several weeks vacationing in Hawaii, one of their favorite places. He tended to her rose garden for many years, continuing to care for them even in his final months.

He had a deep love for the outdoors and the simple joy of camping, a tradition he kept alive for 49 years with his family always by his side. He has passed that love down to his children and grandchildren. Each morning, he could be found walking at Tobico Marsh in the Bay City State Park. During his earlier years, he was often joined by his granddogs and later his dogs, earning a reputation around the park as the friendly face who always had a dog treat tucked in his pocket. He had a passion for shooting and trained himself to be a gunsmith. He was also the captain of the Tri-City Pistol League for decades.

He is survived by his wife, Lois; their four children, David Matthes, Lori (Daryl) Appold, Susan (Michael) Lewis and Daniel (Shannon) Matthes; five grandchildren, Matthew Appold (fiancé, Samantha Scola), Alexandria Appold (fiancé, Joseph Foret), Emily EauClaire, Trevor Matthes and Donovan Matthes and brother-in-law, Ryan (Pat) Nagy.

The family would like to extend a very special thank you to the staff at the Toni and Trish House for all the care and compassion they have shown to them throughout this difficult time. The family would also like to thank all of their family and friends for their love and support.

The funeral service for Herb will take place on Friday, July 25, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church of Frankenlust with interment to follow at St. Paul Cemetery. The family will be present to receive visitors on Thursday, July 24, 2025 at Gephart Funeral Home from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Friday at the Church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Memorial contributions may be made in Herb's name to the St. Paul Ministry Center or the Toni and Trish House.

Of course, no visit with him was complete without one of his classic Herbisms. Rather than saying goodbye, he’d flash a grin and say, “Come back when you can’t stay so long.”