- Date Of Birth: February 9, 1922
- Date Of Death: April 2, 2019
- State: Illinois
The measure of a life can be counted in many ways: the experiences one had, how long they lived, and the number of their family and friends are all common indicators, but perhaps the most important legacy of a life are the lives they touched. To have met Matthew (Mitch) Macocha was to have been left with the very real feeling that he cared about you. He made every person he encountered convinced that they shared a very special and deep connection.
From the way he doted on babies, to the comforting hugs and kind words of greeting, and the always-sad goodbyes, his empathy and kindness left you feeling better about yourself and made you want to bring some of his warmth to others. Walking into the houses he shared with his wife Leona over their 76 years of marriage you knew that you were home. This was a place where you could relax, eat (lots!) of food, watch a game, play some cards, and simply bask in the warmth of their deep, enduring love. Although we can measure his life in traditional ways, that feeling we had when we were with him and how we bring that to others in our lives is his true legacy.
By any standard measure, Matthew lived a full life. Born February 9, 1922 in East Chicago, Indiana to Andrew and Maryann Macocha, he was the oldest of their five children. He loved his younger sisters Genevieve and Jane, and brothers Chester and Walter, all of whom preceded him in death. He first laid eyes on his future bride in 1937 when she was in eighth grade, and married Leona (Berdis) on November 16, 1942.
Like so many of his generation, he entered World War II after being drafted into the Army that same November and was deployed to the European Theater in September of 1943. There he served in D-Day operations and the campaign in Northern France, the Battle of the Bulge, and in the Rhineland and Central Europe. During his service, he was awarded five bronze stars. He was honorably discharged and returned in October of 1945 while his beloved Cubs were playing in the World Series (he would later get to go see a World Series game with his son when they finally won it all in 2016).
Upon his arrival home he worked at Standard Oil, first as a carpenter and later in their lab. He and Leona had five children, Charmaine Blissmer (Fred), Janet Antilla (James-dec.), Susan Hruskoci (Alan), Ellen Harte (James), and their baby boy Michael (Lisa). He moved to Plymouth, Michigan in 1970 taking a new job with the EPA in their motor vehicle emissions lab. After retiring in 1987, he moved back to Indiana in 1988 with his wife.
As the patriarch to a family with five children, 15 grandchildren, and 24 great grandchildren, he leaves them all with the gift of tradition. There are the cherished Christmas Eve traditions of sharing the oplatki and multi-course meal, teaching every generation card games like euchre and cribbage, and cheering for (and occasionally cursing) the Cubs; but also unspoken traditions embraced throughout the family – caring for and supporting one another, creating a warm, welcoming home for friends and family, and giving unfailing love and respect for our spouses and children.
He lived his life with dignity and grace and died the same way on April 2nd, 2019 surrounded by his family. His was truly a life well lived by any measure. All that were blessed to have known and love him are encouraged to keep a piece of him in their heart and carry on his legacy.
