Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Adolph Matusiewicz, United States Army, Retired, of Madison, Mississippi, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on July 16, 2023.
Born in 1946, in Vineland, New Jersey to Carmella and Daniel Matusiewicz, he later moved to Skipperville, Alabama where he attended Carroll High School. As a young man he enjoyed skydiving as well as raising and showing quarter horses with his father. Upon graduation from Auburn University with a degree in Fine Art, he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army. He married Kathryn Lucile Powell of Mobile, Alabama in 1971. A life-long aviation enthusiast, Dan served in Vietnam as a Huey helicopter pilot from 1971-1972 and was attached to the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG), the United States’ most elite and highest classified multi-service special forces unit.
Upon returning home from his deployment, he worked as a member of the local art and design community in Mobile, Alabama until he relocated to Jackson where he served for ten years as the Assistant Director of the Mississippi Art Association and Mississippi Museum of Art. Dan ultimately retired after many decades from his position as the Senior Contract Officer for the Mississippi Military Department. Throughout his career he enjoyed serving as a reserve helicopter pilot with the Mississippi National Guard 213th Medical Brigade and his weekly Tuesday night flights from Hawkins Field.
Dan loved to listen to all kinds of music, and he adored his role as a father and grandfather. Some of his favorite memories were of the time he spent restoring and sailing his Catalina 22 sailboat with his family on the Reservoir and the numerous European trips he and Kathy made after his retirement. A life-long Catholic, Dan was an active communicant of Saint Richard Catholic Church.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Carmella, his father, Daniel, his stepmother, Rita, and his sister, Aurea Greenfield. Dan is survived by his wife of 52 years, Kathy; his daughters Lucy Meredith, and Alice (Charles “Bo”) McCollum; his four grandchildren: Mary Hayden Meredith, Charlie Meredith, Ramsey McCollum, and Cade McCollum; as well as his sisters: Joann Malik, Susan Baker (Bob), and Connie Donnelly (Harold J).
Visitation will be held from 11 am to 12 pm on Saturday, July 22 at Saint Richard Catholic Church in Jackson. The Mass of Christian Burial and Committal will follow with the Reverend Joe Tonos officiating.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Dan’s memory may be made to Hospice Ministries, Saint Richard’s Special Kids Program using the following link: https://saintrichard.com/parishlife/special-kids-2/, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or a charity of your choice.
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