Elmer J. Mathia

Elmer Joseph Mathia, age 93, died peacefully and surrounded by family in his home at Glen Eagle Senior Living in Traverse City, Michigan, on Friday, January 16, 2015. Born November 18, 1921 in Munhall, Pennsylvania, Elmer grew up in Detroit, Michigan. After attending Southwestern High School, he served in World War II as a technical sergeant in the Quartermaster Corps of Patton's 3rd Army in France and Germany. Following the war, he attended college at the Detroit Institute of Technology, receiving a B.S. in Accounting.
Elmer worked for twelve years in public accounting, and then spent the next 26 years of his career in hospital administration at the People's Community Hospital Authority in Wayne, MI, and at Pontiac General Hospital. He was instrumental in building numerous hospitals in the Detroit area and also in implementing computer technology in the hospital system in the 1970s. He retired as Director of Fiscal Affairs in 1985.
On May 30, 1948, Elmer married his beloved Barbara Louise Toth at the Hungarian Reformed Church in Delray, MI. Throughout his life, he remained a very active member of the church, heading the building committee and arranging for the financing of the church's new campus in Allen Park, MI in 1964. After living the majority of their life in the Detroit area, in 2001 Elmer and Barbara moved to Traverse City, MI, where they had vacationed for over fifty years.
Elmer took great pleasure in spending time with his children and grandchildren. He is survived by Barbara, his loving wife of 66 years, and four children and their spouses: David and Faye Mathia of Traverse City, MI; Joseph and Cathy Mathia of Dallas, TX; Dr. Lynn Mathia and Ron Woodall of New Baltimore, MI; and Leigh and Doug Brownley of Byron Center, MI. Elmer is also survived by six grandchildren: Kyle Brownley, Hallie Mathia, Matthew Oztalay, Cloe Mathia, Ben Oztalay, and Cheyenne Woodall. He was preceded in death by two granddaughters, Monica Mathia and Kimberly Mathia.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 22, 2015 at Suttons Bay Congregational Church, 218 West Madison St, Suttons Bay, MI. A celebration of life will be held this summer on a date to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Elmer's name to Penrickton Center for Blind Children, 26530 Eureka Road, Taylor, MI 48180; American Hungarian Reformed Church, 9901 Allen Road, Allen Park, MI 48101; or the charitable organization of your choice.
Please Visit www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com to share your memories of Elmer with his family.
The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services