Memorials › John Joseph Matous
John Joseph Matous
15 May 1874 – 13 Sep 1951
| Birth | 15 May 1874 |
| Death | 13 Sep 1951 |
| Cemetery | Mount Olivet Cemetery Detroit , Wayne County , Michigan , USA |
| Added by | Veronika Grace on 01 Jul 2021 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/202174667 |
Bio
John was seven years old in 1881 when he and his father, Frank and mother Veronika along with his half brother and sister from his father's first marriage left Svinky, Bohemia and arrived in Chicago, Illinois. John's father, Frank, worked his first job in America unloading Lake Freighters earning one dollar daily. Later, Frank and his wife Veronika purchased a farm in Nebraska and John inherited the farm upon their death. John owned and operated Matous Hardware store and J.J.Matous Merchantile Store in Abie, NE for seventeen years. Around 1927, John and Anna purchased 480 additional acres of farm land in Verona, North Dakota. They paid one dollar an acre and lived in a new two story home on Hwy 1 north of Verona. Here, the eight youngest children went to school and helped on the farm and raised turkeys. Five children and multiple grandchildren and great grandchildren proudly served in the military. During these years, the grasshoppers were so thick they covered the sides of the buildings completely. Grasshoppers chewed on fenceposts so the weathered wood looked clean again. The grasshoppers destroyed all vegetation. It was a frustrating and agonizing time in which folks anxiously looked up into the skies whenever rain clouds appeared. Many times only a few drops of rain would fall and that was the pattern for many years. Hundreds of families gave up and moved west or to other parts of the United States. After the youngest child, Victor, graduated from high school, Anna and John were driven by their priest to Valley City where they took the train to Detroit, Michigan in April, 1943. In Detroit, their sons, John and Frank and their families were established. The Extended Matous family embraced the Golden Age of Detroit Auto Industry. In the 1950's, Detroit was the wealthiest city in the world. In Detroit, John and Anna celebrated their golden 50th wedding anniversary. Their union was blessed with eleven healthy children. The couple celebrated many happy memories and a few sorrows in their journey together. John worked for seven years in Detroit and was gainfully employed until the Lord called him to his forever home. Funeral services for John J. Matous, 77, were held Sept. 6 in St. Edward's Catholic church on the lake in Detroit, Mich. Burial was in Mt. Olivet cemetery. John was survived by his wife, Anna and ten children: Otto of Prague, Ben of Bruno, John, Frank, Leo, Victor, Mrs. Georgia Mayercysk and Mrs. Mary Wexelberg, all of Detroit, Mrs. Zita Eklund of Ohio, and Joseph, who came from Honolulu, T. H. by plane. He was preceded in death by a son, Arthur, who died in North Dakota at the age of 23 years, his parents and his sister Anna. Mr. Matous was a member of the Catholic Workman, Modern Woodmen of America, and Holy Name Society. Submitted by author L.G.Matous ''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Photos
Family
Parents
Spouse
Siblings
- Marie Vesela Jaros 1860–1938 FaG
- Sr Mary Zita Matous 1866–1955 FaG
- Joseph B. Matous 1869–1924 FaG
- Jan Matous 1871–1873 FaG
- Anna Matousova Matous 1876–1932 FaG
- Rosalie Matousova 1878–1879 FaG
Children
- Otto Charles Matous 1901–1969
- Bohumil John "Ben" Matous 1903–1983
- John Joseph Matous Jr 1905–1981
- Arthur Matous 1908–1928
- Georgia Anna "Faye" Matous Mayercsyk Benard 1910–2003
- Frank Joseph Matous 1912–1989
- Mary Helen Matous Wexelberg 1914–2010
- Zita Matous Eklund 1916–1961
- Joseph Vincent Matous 1919–1987
- Leo Thomas Matous 1922–1996
- Victor Richard Matous 1924–2013
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