Samuel Matz

Samuel Adam Matz, of Richmond, MO, formerly of Lee's Summit, MO, McAllen, TX and St. Charles, IL, passed away on November 11, Veterans Day, at the age of 86 at Shirkey Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Richmond, MO.Dr. Matz was born on July 1, 1924 in Carmi, IL. A WWII veteran, he was recruited in 1943 for the Army Specialized Training Program at Yale University and served overseas as a Surgical Technician in military hospitals in the Philippines.  Dr. Matz received his BS from Evansville College; his MS from Kansas State University; and his PhD in Food Science and Technology from the University of California Davis. He had over 40 years of experience in the food industry, conducting, administering, and writing about product development, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. He won two Secretary of Army awards for Superior Achievement in Research, and was granted 12 U.S. Patents. Dr. Matz was the author of numerous highly-regarded textbooks on food technology, as well as several other non-fiction books, and contributed articles to six encyclopedias and Scientific American. He was employed in senior management positions at Quartermaster Food and Container Institute in Chicago,IL; Borden Foods in Syracuse, NY; Robert A. Johnston Co. in Milwaukee, WI, and Ovaltine Products in Villa Park, IL.Dr. Matz is survived by his four children with Patricia Ann (Adams) Matz of St. Charles, IL: Terry Matz (Kenneth Keller) of Independence, MO, Steven (Jill) Matz of Ashburn, VA, Donald (Cheryl) Matz of Lake Charles, LA, and Victoria Adams (Spyros Efthimiades) of New York, NY.  He leaves behind 15 grandchildren: Elizabeth, Maria, Margaret, Thomas, Peter, John and Bridget; and Danielle, Michelle, Catherine, Sarah, Christina, Mollie, Margaret and Anna Grace; and two great-grandchildren, Meridith and Olivia. He is also survived by his sister Margery Ann (Gene) Higgins and niece Kathy Trout of Carmi, IL, and nephew Dana Higgins of Olivet, MI; and cousins Rebecca Wilson of Virginia and Wayne Given of Carbondale, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents, Curtis Elmo and Alma Marie (Higginson) Matz of Carmi, IL.   Samuel was much loved, and will be greatly missed.A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, November 17, at Woods Chapel Church, 4725 NE Lakewood Way, Lee's Summit, MO 64064 at 11:00 am in the sanctuary. Visitation will be held from 10:00 until the time of service. Burial will take place at Leavenworth National Cemetery at 2:30 pm. The family would like to thank the caring staff of the Shirkey Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Richmond, MO, the staff and residents of John Knox Village in Lee's Summit, MO, and the compassionate staff of VITAS Innovative Hospice Care. Online condolences to mountmoriahterracepark.comArrangements under the direction of Mount Moriah Terrace Park Funeral Home; 801 N.W. 108th Street;  Kansas City, MO. (816) 734-5500

---