Thomas Matthews

Thomas Matthews, age 57, of Holland, passed away Thursday, December 15, 2022.

Tom was born on September 14, 1965 in Gary Indiana, but early on moved with his family to Holland Michigan - the city he would always call his home. Tom loved swimming at Holland Community Pool and Sledding at Nies Hill, near the hospital on the corner of Michigan Avenue and 24th street.

Every Summer Tom participated in Holland Recreation programs - do you remember "Sports School?" Where everyone in your age group wore the same colored, crusty-cotton, draw-string shorts. And you spent two weeks of summer mornings outside having fun. These was Tom's favorite: little league baseball, tennis lessons at Moran park. He loved every minute of it.

Speaking of that, Tom could organize a baseball game with a tennis racket and tennis ball - where every at-bat was a crushing hit, and you didn't tag the runner - tennis balls were softer. So you tried to bean them as they ran the bases - if you hit them, they were out.

Tom could turn even chores into a sport. Mom would tell us to pick up the apples that fell from old trees in our backyard. Tom would stab them with the tapered end of a hollow, 4-foot aluminum tent pole. With a big swing and a flick of his wrist, sent them hurling over the pond into the cemetery beyond. It was brilliant fun - way better than putting them in a box.

Tom attended Holland High School and there he also loved the sports - football, wrestling, and especially baseball. Tom also loved fishing- to him it was just another sport - a very laid-back sport. And rock music - Def Leopard, Van Halen, and Ozzy Osborne.

As an adult Tom still loved sports - The Detroit Tigers, the Lions, and the Pistons. The Chicago Bears and the Bulls, but especially Notre Dame football - he even had a fighting Irish tattoo.

He is survived by his loving daughter Chloe. His "Papa" and mother, Phil and Mary Ann VanHuis. His brothers Eric(Christy) and Dan(Amanda.)

A memorial visitation will be held from 6-8 pm, Thursday (December 22), at the Dykstra Funeral Home-Mulder Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to Gift of Life Michigan.