Mathew Peter "Matt" Krznarich,
94, of Sun City, Ariz., and a summer resident of Hurley, Wis., died May 21,
2013, at Freedom Plaza Nursing Home in Peoria. Matt was born Sept. 20, 1918, in Ironwood,
Mich., son of the late Milo and Mary (Ulasich) Krznarich, attended Newport Grade
School, and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1936. He then worked
in area CCC camps for a short time and at Ulasich Brothers Meat Market for three
years prior to attending Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Mich. for
one year. Matt entered the U.S. Army on Aug. 28, 1941,
serving in the 986th Engineer Maintenance Co., 78th Coast Artillery
Anti-Aircraft Battery B, in the Aleutian Islands during World War Two, and saw
action in the Battle of Attu Island. His decorations and citations included one
Service Stripe with three Overseas Service Bars, American Defense, American
Theater, and Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with one Bronze Battle Star, and the
Good Conduct Medal. Following his honorable discharge as a
sergeant on Nov. 3, 1945, Matt attended Superior State Teachers College in
Superior, Wis., receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in 1948.
While at Superior, he earned all-conference varsity football honors for two
years and was captain of the varsity basketball team for one year. He then
received a Masters Degree in guidance counseling from the University of
Wisconsin-Madison in 1953. Matt taught and coached varsity football and
basketball in Spencer, Wis. for one year, Hancock, Mich. for three years, and in
the Milwaukee Public School System for 28 years, retiring in 1980. He was a
member of St. Clements of Rome Catholic Church in Sun City, Ironwood American
Legion Post 5, Gogebic Country Club, the Wisconsin Education Association, and
the former Ironwood Elks Lodge. He married Virginia R. "Ginny" McCoy on June
25, 1955, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Mauston, Wis. She
survives. Also surviving are numerous nieces and
nephews. Besides his parents, Matt was preceded in
death by an infant daughter, Mary Clare; three brothers, Joseph, John and
Milton; a sister, Katherine Rodeghiero; brother-in-law, Bruno
Rodeghiero; sisters-in-law, Ardith, Faye and Pat Krznarich; and a nephew, Jon
Michael Krznarich. A Mass of Christian
Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, July 23, at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace
Catholic Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Robb Jurkovich, celebrant. Rite of
Committal and interment will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood, where full
military honors will be accorded by the Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor
Guard. Luncheon
will be served at the Elk and Hound on Country Club Road in Ironwood
immediately upon return from the cemetery. Relatives
and friends may call in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church from 10 to 11
a.m. on Tuesday. Local arrangements have been entrusted to
McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood, where memories
may be shared online at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.