Jesse Matucha

A memorial service for Jesse Jay Matucha was held on Friday, June 24, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Southern Baptist Church in Gregory, SD, with Pastor Russ Grim officiating.

Penny Sperl was in charge of registration. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Jesse Jay Matucha was born on February 24, 1980, to Melvin and Kathleen (Schmidt) Matucha at the Gregory Memorial Hospital. Jesse graduated from Gregory High School in 1998.

Jesse met Melissa Schrader in 2003 and to this special relationship a son, Dustin James, was born in June of 2005.

Jesse excelled in woodworking and made many pieces of furniture for his mom, even the cupboards in her kitchen. Jesse enjoyed building for others as well. He made a finely crafted chess set, a china hutch, and many more items. He was a true craftsman like his dad! He did a lot of house remodels too.

Jesse was a mechanic. This was his true passion. When he was in high school, his uncle Ed Chocholousek showed him how to disassemble and reassemble an old pickup engine. He gained a lot of knowledge in the process and also gained ownership of the pickup.

Other interests that Jesse loved were a relaxing day of fishing, knowing how to tie lures, and even catching the big one. He enjoyed cooking too. He would clean the fish and then cook them. His buddies would fish and then hand off the fish for Jesse to clean. He would even cook at the Center in Dallas for all to enjoy.

Jesse was a jack of all trades. He worked with Bachmann Bros Bee Farm, on a buffalo ranch, refinishing all the doors at Avera Rosebud Country Care Center, and with Dostal Construction, and especially enjoyed working with the Klein’s House Moving crew, and on the Ivan and Shirley Vosika farm.

He loved spending time with his family and friends. Most of all, he liked spending time with his son, Dustin.

Jesse passed away on June 10, 2022, at the age of 42 years.

Jesse is survived by his mom Kathy; son Dustin; brother Lee; sisters Lorie and Glorie; grandmother Vlesta Schmidt; as well as aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.

He is preceded in death by his dad Melvin and grandparents Frank and Mildred Matucha and Fred Schmidt.