Mathew Lee Gerken, 19
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 13 years, 9 months AGO
Mathew Gerken died on March 17, 2012. Most of the world never knew him; most of those who did will not long mourn his passing. Such is life. But for my son, Daniel, and those of us who were privileged to love him, memory will not dim nor time erase what he brought into out lives.
Mat arrived in this world sick, with a broken heart, and lived a life with pain, suffering and uncertainty. You’d never have known it. Mat didn’t talk much about it, and if he dwelt on it at all during his many sleepless nights you couldn’t tell.
Mat was an intelligent young man. He excelled in computer skills and was a gifted lead guitarist. He played in a nameless band with Daniel and Dan’s brother, John. They took lessons together, practiced and never got out of the garage; but when Mat played they were good, and he dared to dream of a future.
Mat had a way about him. His dark unruly curls poured out from under his hat, and an ear to ear infectious grin lit up his face and our hearts whenever he came through our front door, peeking crookedly around a corner and chuckling, or boldly walking into the room announcing his arrival like a son returning home to his eager family. He was polite and kind and my grandchildren loved him; so did a big useless shepherd named Grizzly; so did we all — but no one more than Daniel.
Daniel and Mat were best friends. Dan spent every spare moment with Matt, looking out for him in his own quiet Daniel way. It was a joy to see them together, these “brothers,” and and it was sometimes difficult to tell who was taking care of whom.
Mat was only 19 years old, the only child of his loving parents. While not the child of my body, he was the child of my heart. I thank God for his life, and his parents for sharing him with my family. I pray they will take comfort in and continue their relationship with their “son,” Daniel. Requiem in pace Mathew.
A memorial service will be held for Mathew from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 31, 2012, at Bell Tower Funeral Home, 3398 E. Jenalan Ave., Post Falls, (208) 457-8880.