James Mathew "Matt" Bourne

Matt peacefully left us with 82 years of warmth and wonderful memories on Thursday, January 2, 2025. He was surrounded by the comfort and love of his family at Brookdale Brookfield Capitol Drive. He had resided there for the last eight months after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease since 2014. Matt’s mind and body are now restored to wholeness and his beautiful smile has returned. He can sing again and wander to his heart’s content.

He was a loving husband of 54 years to Kathy; an adoring father of Debra, Amy, and Angela; and he is a cherished brother of Phyllis Bernau, Mel (Phyllis Trinka) Bourne, and Sid Bourne. He is further survived by cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and two beloved nephews, Lucas Bernau and Michael Bourne.

Matt was born May 20, 1942, in Woodsfield, OH. He lived in Huntingburg, IN, before moving to Madison, WI. Matt graduated from Madison West HS where he was named Most Valuable Player of the Year for Baseball Pitching. He was proud of a no-hit game.

Matt played baritone horn in the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps traveling around the US with the corps.

He was proud that he had traveled to 48 of the 50 states by the time he graduated high school. He added Hawaii in the 1990s. He loved camping, hiking, driving and exploring, reading (especially the newspaper, John Grisham and Robert Ludlum novels), history, long walks, golf, and music (especially big band and jazz). After their marriage, Matt and Kathy traveled to Canada, Austria, Switzerland, the Caribbean, Washington state, Washington DC, the east coast, and several other areas of the US. Their favorite place to visit was always Bailey’s Harbor in Door County.

Matt started college at UW Platteville for 2 years then went into the US Navy from Feb.19, 1963, to March 31, 1965. He was very proud of his military service, serving as a Fire Controlman in charge of a 3”-gun mount radar set on the USS Glacier (ABG-4), an icebreaker in Antarctica creating a channel through the ice for supply ships to come in. Matt did his training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Chicago. He was transferred to the Reserves on Jan. 15, 1965, and to the USS ATKA in Boston, MA. After his service, he returned to Platteville switching his major from chemistry to political science. During college breaks he delivered milk for Borden Milk, a job he loved.

When he graduated from college, Matt moved to Milwaukee to work as a construction bond underwriter for Maryland Casualty Co. and met Kathy in September of 1969. They were married June 13, 1970. They moved to Cudahy where their three daughters were born. Brookfield became their home in 1987. Matt worked for several insurance companies and retired from the F&D in 2008. One of his first big jobs was bonding the construction for Froedtert & the Medical College of WI. He took pride in doing his work well and was described by many as a gentleman, kind, intelligent, and honest.

Matt and Kathy were volunteer ushers at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts for 16 years, worked for Habitat for Humanity, and were active in their churches. He especially loved singing in the choir at Brookfield Congregational Church. Kathy and Matt also loved square dancing with Silver Buckles in the beginning of their marriage and taking social dance lessons for many years later in their marriage.

Our family would like to express our deepest gratitude to the many friends and family members who have offered love and support during this long journey with Alzheimer’s. We also appreciate the special love and care offered by the Alzheimer’s Association, ADRC, Community Care Adult Day Center, and Brookdale Brookfield Capitol Drive, for their compassionate care during an especially difficult part of his journey. We also are grateful to Brookfield Congregational Church members and Pastor Laura McLeod and Matt’s very special buddy and caregiver, Logan Lark.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 2PM at Brookfield Congregational Church, 16350 Gebhardt Rd., Brookfield, WI 53005. Visitation will be from 1-2PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations would be greatly appreciated to either…

Brookfield Congregational Church

P.O. Box 98

Brookfield, WI 53008

To be directed to the church’s music ministry

 Or:

Alzheimer’s Association, Wisconsin Chapter

620 S 76th St.

Milwaukee, WI 53214

 May the good Lord bless and keep you ‘til we meet again.