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Frederick Gary “Fred” Matthes, 83, of rural DeSoto died on January 26, 2023. He was born in St. Louis on December 7, 1939, to Harold and Emily Matthes. He was raised on the family dairy farm east of DeSoto. He graduated from Festus High School and completed his Mechanical Engineering degree at University of Missouri at Rolla.

Fred enjoyed hunting at an early age. He made many big game hunting trips to the Rocky Mountain area.

Fred worked at Kinkead, a division of Kohler Company, at Union City, Tenn., as Manager of Engineering. He retired at age 55 to return to the family farm as caregiver of his aging parents and to raise hay and beef cattle.

A true outdoorsman, Fred loved caring for his cattle and observing the many types of wildlife on the farm. He worked hard to keep the farm well-maintained for nearly 30 years until the time of his death.

Fred is survived by his sister Nancy (John W.) Moore of Charleston, Mo.; Harold “Hal” (Anne) Matthes of Steamboat Springs, Colo., Marilyn (Mark) Kemp of Arnold, Mo., four nephews, a niece, and their families.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10:00-11:00 am at Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home in DeSoto on June 17. A Celebration of Life Service will follow at 11:00 am.

Memorials may be made to Fred’s favorite charity, St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

Fred’s family is grateful to his friends and neighbors for their caring and kindness to him through the years.