Obituary of Anthony Ryan Matko

Anthony Ryan Matko of Richfield, Minnesota, was born July 9th, 1991 passed away unexpectedly on the 4th of January, 2023 at the age of 31. His parents and brother were at his side. Anthony was a kind hearted person who always wanted to help others. He was also an avid outdoorsman. 

Preceded in death by Great Grandparents Matt and Mary Pouchnik and Andrew and Margaret Knight; Grandparents Henry and Margaret Morton and John Matko.

Survived by Parents Dan and Carole (Morton) Matko; Brother, Joseph Matko; Grandmother Delores Matko; Aunt Lynn Werner; Aunts and Uncles Sherry and Steve Raad and David and Janet Matko; Cousins Chris and Allie Werner and their children Brooks and Tate, Lindsay and Anthony Fleck and their son Henry, Nick and Jessica Raad and their children Cody and Ada and Rebecca and Pete Waldorf and their children Jordan and Annika.

Services will be held at the Cremation Society of MN 7110 France Ave. Edina, MN 55435 (952-924-4100) January 29th, 2023. Gathering starts at 12:00 p.m. 

Memorials preferred to: Future Forests Fund through MN DNR. 

Anthony Ryan Matko of Richfield, MN passed away unexpectedly with his family at his side at the age of 31.

He was born to Daniel and Carole Matko and grew up in Richfield, MN. He graduated from Richfield High School and attended Hennepin Technical College where he studied Residential Building and Carpentry.

Through the ARLE (Adaptive Recreation and Learning Exchange) Program; Tony helped teach and mentor children with disabilities to learn to Snowboard. He absolutely loved it! Tony had such a rare gift of being able to see what a person was capable of doing despite their disability and not just seeing what they weren’t capable of doing. Things just needed a little modifying for them to be able to participate! Tony was so inspired by these children. He was the kind of person that was “at his best when he was helping others”!!!

He worked for Suburban Framers where he applied his carpentry skills. After a winter with sub zero temperatures and getting pneumonia, then double pneumonia he decided (or rather his body decided) this wasn’t worth his health.

After various other jobs he got a job working at the Excel Energy Center which he particularly enjoyed as he loved Hockey. We have always been a “Hockey” family. We have enjoyed watching games together and we have been fortunate enough to have attended several games as a family throughout the years.

Tony loved his family and his friends! He loved animals and kids and they loved him back. He enjoyed the elderly as well; he really enjoyed hearing their stories.

Tony really enjoyed music. Music of all genres! From “2 Chellos” to “Greenday” to “Fleetwood Mac” to “Blue Oyster Cult” to Grandpa Jack’s accordion music etc., etc.

Tony was such a kind caring, compassionate, empathetic person he gave you his time and was genuinely interested in you.

Tony enjoyed so many activities like: Hunting, fishing, ice fishing, 4-wheeling, snowboarding, skiing, BMX biking, Hacky sack, pool, darts and Frisbee golf, pogo sticking, and rollerblading, basketball etc.. He was in band through Junior and Senior High school. He played the trumpet. One year his band teacher even included “Scotland the Brave” as one of their songs in their concert! He was also in Cub Scouts as a child and even won “The Pinewood Derby” one year!

Tony loved Fireworks and the 4th of July, Scottish Festivals and the State Fair! We attended these annually as a family! We always looked forward this!

We took a trip together as a family along with his Grandfather, Aunt and cousins to Scotland. It was extremely important for his Grandfather to Share our Scottish heritage with his grandchildren. It was the trip of a lifetime! It’s such a special place. We traveled through England to London, took the “Underground” through London, we traveled through Scotland all the way up to the Highlands. We visited relatives and friends, as well as many castles and attended the Tattoo Festival at Edinburgh Castle.

We are grateful for all of the wonderful memories and experiences we’ve had together as a family! We had lots of fun! We have always been a very close tight knit family!

Tony had such a beautiful heart and soul. He was a happy, loving child that grew into a kind, beautiful loving young man that had so much potential and so much to give.

As parents we have always been so proud of the young men we’ve raised loving, kind, caring, compassionate individuals that would never cause harm to others!

Tony’s favorite place to be was the cabin, up on “Black Duck Lake” just north of Orr, MN close to the Canadian border. He always felt at his best there!