Matthew Robert Brass was born on December 4, 1970 in Lincoln, NE to Robert Garold Brass and Kay Sharon Kenton Brass. Matt’s family moved to Gothenburg, NE in 1974, and Matt’s brother and best friend, Anthony, was born six months later. There they found a wonderful community of family and friends, who taught Matt about loving thy neighbor and fostered a spirit of generosity.
Matt’s love for the outdoors and sports began at a very young age, where he developed a passion for Steelers football, KC Royals baseball, and all things Huskers. His childhood was spent hunting on the farm, fishing in Canada at Bear Paw Lodge, and playing basketball in their driveway. Matt was quiet but fiercely competitive, and enjoyed playing football, basketball, and high jumping for the Gothenburg Swedes. He graduated from Gothenburg High School in 1989. Matt then went to UNK for a year before transferring to UNL, where his love for attending Husker football and basketball games began. He became a season ticket holder and has rarely missed a game since-Go Big Red! Many lifelong friendships were formed through high school and intramural sports, Husker tailgates, games, trips, and concerts. He finished college in 1994 with a Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness.
Matt spent 27 years in agribusiness working for United Farmers Cooperative, Cargill, and, most recently, Ag Consulting Group. Matt’s work involved consulting and overseeing marketing strategies and risk management for farmers in Southeast Nebraska and Western Iowa. He loved ACG, and thought of his coworkers and the clients he served as family. Matt treasured his time visiting clients on their farms and being out in the countryside, soaking in God’s creation and the beauty of nature.
In 1998, Matt met the love of his life, Stacy. Their relationship flourished through their shared values of the Catholic faith, family, and sports. He proposed to both her and her daughter, Alexis Johnson, and they were united in marriage and as a family on August 24, 2001. Kenton Thomas was born in 2003, and they moved to Lincoln one year later. In 2005, another boy blessed their home, Aiden Matthew, and in 2014 they welcomed Gianna Rose Faustina. They built their marriage and beautiful family on sacrificial love, communication, honesty, and trust. Matt enjoyed nothing more than watching his children grow. He modeled patience, hard work, faith, and kindness each and every day. Matt was an active member of St. Peter’s Catholic Parish and a member of the Knights of Columbus. Some of his favorite memories included family vacations and attending Husker sporting events.
Matt always enjoyed the small things in life and was a man who led and taught by example. Over the past two years, as he fought High Grade Stage 4 Neuroendocrine Cancer, he was a model of true courage, strength, and perseverance. Matt lived out their family motto of “One day at a time… one moment at a time… Jesus, I Trust in You” to the very end.
Matt was welcomed into the arms of Christ on February 10, 2021, with some of the greatest influences from his life awaiting him-his grandparents, Thomas & Betty Kenton and Loren & Marge Brass and Matt and Stacy’s children, Mary Gabriel & John Paul Faustina. He is also preceded in death by Jackson Thomas Brass, Rose Ryan, Richard Schwenka, and Jeremy Schwenka. He is survived and will be greatly missed by his wife and children; his parents, Robert & Kay Brass; brother, Anthony Brass and his wife, Lisa; his Mother & Father-in-Law, Dean & Mary Jo Schwenka; sisters-in-law & brothers-in-law, Shannon & Joel Kuehn, Colin & Mary Schwenka, Fr. Andrew Schwenka, and Christian Schwenka; nieces & nephews, McCoy & Boston Brass, Isaac & Emerson Kuehn, Caleb, Cole, Cade, and Charlie Schwenka; grandparents-in-law, Donna Schwenka and Eugene Ryan; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
There will be a Rosary Service at 6:30pm on Monday, February 15th at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Lincoln, NE, with public visitation beginning at 5:30pm. The Funeral Mass will be Tuesday at 10:30am at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, and a boxed lunch reception will follow. The family asks that those wishing to attend wear a face covering and practice social distancing. There will also be a livestream of both services available on the Roper & Sons Funeral Home website. Interment will be held at Holy Family Cemetery on Wednesday, February 17 at 2:00pm in Heartwell, NE.
In lieu of flowers, Matt asked that donations be made to St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Lynette’s Angels, or the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign. An account has also been created for anyone wishing to make a memorial gift for the college expenses of Matt’s children. You can do so by making a deposit at any UBT location or checks payable to “Matthew Brass Memorial.” Cards and condolences may also be sent to 5000 Country Hill Rd, Lincoln, NE 68516.