Matthew Charles Schmillen

Matthew Charles Schmillen, the son of Chuck and Diane (Perrin) Schmillen was born on May 20, 1975, in Cherokee, IA. His childhood years were spent in Marcus where he attended school and graduated in 1993. Matt started running an excavator and other heavy equipment when he was 14 years old, and became quite skilled at what he did. He attended college for a short time before returning to the family business for the last 25 years, most recently serving as President of Schmillen Construction. On September 7, 2002, he was united in marriage to Tonia Schneider at Marcus, IA. They were blessed with four boys.

Matt was an active member of the Grace United Methodist Church, and served with the Knights of 21^st Century. He volunteered his time on the Marcus City Council for 20 years. In addition to his community minded service, Matt had many hobbies. He enjoyed hunting, fishing trips to Canada, camping, and boating with his family. He was a former Hobby Stock racer and spent his time racing at the Buena Vista Raceway. He drove in several demo derbys over the years, built racecars, and went on snowmobile trips out west. He always enjoyed attending NASCAR races with the “Bros.” More than anything, family was his life and he cherished every moment spent with his boys, including coaching their football and Little League teams, and teaching them to hunt and fish.

On June 9, 2020, Matt passed away unexpectedly at the Cherokee Regional Medical Center. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Jack and June Perrin, and Bob and Mildred Schmillen, as well as his brother, Michael Schmillen. 

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 18 years, Tonia Schmillen and their 4 sons, Michael, John, Cody, and Jacob; his parents, Chuck and Diane Schmillen; one brother, Steve and Ashley Schmillen and their children, Hailey, Emily and Aiden; sisters-in-law, Amber and Dave Pitts and their children, Cole, Rylee, Tyler, and Olivia, Nerissa and Adam Walker and their children, Evelyn and Violet; brother-in-law, Jonathan and Sara Schneider and their children, Ella, Isaac, and Anna; Tonia’s parents, John and Anita Schneider and Lisa and Roger Schoeberlein; his grandmother-in-law, Ramona Wiersema; along with many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 13, 2020, at Grace United Methodist Church in Marcus, Iowa.

Pastor Travis Stevick

Brian Scott
Gerry Alesch
Bill Horstman
Mike Olsen
Mike Staab
Joe Schlinger
Nathan Tentinger
Brian Letsche
Kory Alesch
Ed Johnson
Darrin Johnson

Public visitation with the family present will be held from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Friday, June 12, 2020, at Grace United Methodist Church in Marcus. Social distancing practices will be adhered to. There will be a 7:00 p.m. prayer service at the church following visitation.

The family requests that memorials be made to the Matthew Schmillen Memorial Fund.

Kay Dettman, Pianist

Holy Name Catholic Cemetery
Marcus, Iowa