Darwin D. Matthews, 78

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Darwin D. Matthews, 78, of Nokomis, died Monday, May 4, 2021, at Carle Hospital in Urbana. 

Visitation will be held Thursday, May 6, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Stiehl-Dawson Funeral Home in Nokomis. Funeral services will be held Friday, May 7, at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be held in Nokomis Cemetery with full military honors by Nokomis American Legion and the U.S. Marines. The family requests casual attire.

Mr. Matthews was born May 11, 1942, in Hillsboro, the son of Lonnie and Opal (Funderburk) Matthews. He married Brenda Michael on June 5, 1965, at the First Baptist Church in Nokomis, and she survives.

From 1960 to 1964, he was in the U.S. Marine Corps. He worked for Firestone Tire and Rubber company for nine years. In 1971, he became the owner/operator of his own business, Matthews Backhoe Service, retiring in 2010. He was a member of Local 520  International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), the Nokomis Masonic Lodge, Nokomis Lions Club and the Nokomis Sportsman’s Club. He had a great work ethic and moral values, which he passed on to his children. He loved Nascar (#3). He had a “one-of-a-kind" sense of humor, and many have a story to tell about him.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons, Darren (Rhonda) Matthews of Miami, FL, and Doug (Monica) Matthews of Smithville, TN; daughter, Dana (Zach) Mizeur of Taylorville; grandchildren, Samantha Barnett, Kyle McQuillan, Ryan Matthews, Amber Matthews, and Caleb and Sophia Mizeur; and five great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Dennis Matthews.

Memorials may be made to Grace Baptist Church or the Nokomis Cemetery Association. 

Online condolences may be left at www.stiehldawsonfh.com.