John Mathews

John Stuart Mathews, age 69, of Madison, WI, passed away on Friday, September 2, 2016, at Agrace HospiceCare, Fitchburg, WI. He was born on August 27, 1947 in Kalamazoo, MI, the son of Albert E. and Janice (Brown) Mathews. He was married to Diane Hoernschemeyer and later divorced. John graduated from Western Michigan University and served in the U.S. Army in Germany during the Vietnam War. John worked for Masco Corp. as a yacht captain sailing on the Great Lakes and as far south as Florida, then later as an event coordinator. He also was a navigation instructor/teacher, a salesman, and an artist. He reconnected with his high school sweetheart, Dorene, and moved to Madison in 2009. John belonged to the Waubesa Beach Neighborhood Association (WBNA) and the Lake Waubesa Sailing Club. He loved woodworking, drawing, painting and sailing. John is survived by his significant other, Dorene Soret, Madison, WI; and her daughters, Alicia Soret, Jacksonville, FL, Tori Sampsell, Madison; four sons, Morgan (Megan) Mathews, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, Michael (Krista Gorman) Mathews, Oakhurst, CA, Martin (Toboli) Mathews, Guthrie, OK, Marc Mathews, Detroit, MI; a daughter, JoAnn Mathews, Grosse Pointe Park, MI; a brother, Joseph (Diane) Mathews, Lawton, MI; two grandchildren, Joseph and Onora Mathews; a step-grandson, Jacob Flowers; two nieces, Kelly Mathews, Kalamazoo, MI and Heather Mathews, Portland, OR. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 AM Saturday, September 10, 2016, at St. Paul's Methodist Church, Lawton, MI. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Lawton Heritage Museum. D.L. Newcomer Funeral Home.