Jeal Gilles Matzinger, 58
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 11 years, 8 months AGO
Former Coeur d’Alene resident, Jeal Gilles Matzinger, 58, of Grants Pass, Ore., died Saturday, May 11, 2013, at Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, Ore.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 1, 2013, at Edgewater Christian Fellowship, 101 Assembly Circle, Grants Pass, with Pastor Matt Heverly officiating. Illinois Valley Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements. A memorial in Coeur d’Alene will be announced.
Please sign the family guest book at www.since1928hull.com.
Jeal was born Dec. 22, 1954, in Hollywood, Calif., which explains his outgoing personality. At age 5, together with his family, they moved to Laguna Beach, Calif. He studied auto mechanics through high school and got his first job at a gas station and garage in Laguna Beach. He moved to Santa Cruz, Calif., where he started a mobile mechanic business and played in bands. In 1986 he met his wife to be and they later married and became father to their beloved son, Nathan, in 1989.
They moved to Coeur d’Alene in February 1994. In 1995 he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. He miraculously and bravely battled renal failure, surviving many complications for the next 18 years. He raised their son, stepdaughter and three grandchildren with his beloved wife, Dawn. In September 2012 he moved from Coeur d’Alene to Grants Pass for the last lap of his journey on Earth. He was a warm and lovable man and will be greatly missed.
Jeal loved performance driving; race cars; composing music; playing guitar, which he began playing in his younger years; rock music and performing in his bands. He loved and was dedicated to Jesus Christ, his family and friends.
Survivors include his wife, Dawn L. Matzinger of Grants Pass; children, Nathan Matzinger of Coeur d’Alene, Marcie Leys of Coeur d’Alene, Isabella Leys of Santa Cruz, Nicholas Unruh of Coeur d’Alene and Sebastian Unruh of Coeur d’Alene; two sisters, Dr. Polly Matzinger and Marjolaine Renfo; and three grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Hans and Simone Matzinger and a brother, Tangy Matzinger.