SSGT Evan Matthews

Evan Wesley Matthews, 28, Navarre, Florida passed from this life on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. Evan was born August 16, 1994, in Claremore, Oklahoma. He resided in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma through 2001, then the family moved to Winfield, Kansas prior to moving to Topeka, Kansas in 2007. He graduated from Washburn Rural High School, Topeka, in 2014. He completed his Associates degree while serving in the United States Air Force. Evan loved life and all things adventurous. As a youth, he loved camping and outdoor activities with the Boy Scouts, paintball, skateboarding and swimming. He played the violin and guitar. As he grew older, he became more serious with his swimming and PC gaming. He was a competitive swimmer with the Topeka Swim Association and also swam for the Washburn Rural High School swim team, winning numerous awards. He decided college swimming was not a route he wanted to pursue. He attended Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, KS, being a proud descendent in the Muscogee (Creek) Indian tribe, but decided college life wasn’t for him. Always seeking more adventure- he enlisted in the United States Air Force on January 26, 2016, wishing to serve his country. His plan beyond military service was to attend tech school to become a certified underwater welder. Evan’s military service is as follows: 1st Special Operations Security Forces Staff Sergeant. After basic training, Evan continued working at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX as a Combat Arms Instructor. He was thereafter stationed at RAF Lakenheath, UK and assigned to the 48th Security Forces Squadron as a Combat Arms Instructor. Sergeant Matthews attended the Deployed Aircraft Ground Response Element (DAGRE) Qualification Course in July 2019 and was subsequently assigned to the 1st Special Operations Security Forces Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida on December 2, 2019, as a DAGRE Team Member. During his time at the Hurlburt Field DAGRE section, Sergeant Matthews served multiple deployments to include Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. He was awarded an Air Force Achievement Medal for his service in Iraq and Syria, as well as the Air Force Commendation Medal with a ‘C’ device for his service in Afghanistan. Evan is survived by his parents, Darlene Kielhorn (Cecil) and Darrell Matthews; siblings, Will Matthews (Kayla), Cameron Matthews, John Kielhorn (Sara), Kris Kielhorn, Susan Belden, Heather Rusher, Paige Weitkamp and Katie Weitkamp; Grandparents Thomasine Malone (Tom), Nonia Snyder and Loren Rusher (Becky); four uncles; and five aunts. He was preceded in death by grandparents, William and Tressie Matthews and John C. Kielhorn, and his aunt, Deborah Rusher, plus his beloved dog buddy, Beckham. A celebration of Evan’s life will be at 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Rd, Topeka KS 66614 In lieu of flowers, we invite you to make a donation to either or both of these in Evan’s honor supporting two of things he loved so much- nature and the outdoors: Leave No Trace at https://lnt.org/ and ocean life/conservation: PADI AWARE foundation at https://www.padi.com/aware Both offer options of a tribute gift donation. Evan’s family invites friends and family members to a come and go reception 5-6:30pm (Evan’s Happy Hour) after the service. We will gather at the Classic Bean coffee shop at 2125 SW Fairlawn Plaza Drive, Topeka, Kansas 66614. Condolences may be sent online to www.kevinbrennanfamily.com.

SSGT Evan Matthews

August 16, 1994 - January 25, 2023