Matthew Lee Zocher, age 24, of Mankato, Minnesota, formerly of Merrill, died Thursday, November 24, 2011, in the Town of Bern.
Matt was born March 6, 1987 in Wausau, Wisconsin, the son of Michael Zocher and Florence (Haskins) Steckling. In high school, he was involved in wrestling, track, football and marching band. Matt was a 2005 graduate of Merrill Senior High School. He attended Michigan Tech for 2 years where he was in the ROTC program. Currently, he was attending The University of Minnesota-Mankato. Matt had worked at Copper River Cranberry Marsh, Camp Luther, Harley Davidson and Line Tec. He drove school bus in Mankato, worked for Menards and the Mankato Airport. He enjoyed hunting, snowmobiling, kayaking, fishing, biking, spending time with family and friends and most of all, flying. Matt was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Merrill, the Maverick Flight Team, Mankato and coached wrestling for the grade school students in Merrill.
Matt is survived by his mother, Florence (Eric) Steckling of Tomahawk; his father, Michael (Angie) Zocher of Merrill; 2 sisters, Jessica Wilde of Wausau and Ashley (Ed Fogtiene) Zocher of Tomahawk.; 1 brother, Brody Zocher of Merrill; maternal grandparents, Pearl Haskins of Merrill and Agnes Steckling of Athens; paternal grandparents, Delmar Zocher of Merrill and Clark and Bonnie Callahan of Merrill; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Matt was preceded in death by his maternal grandfathers, David Haskins and Arlin Steckling and his paternal grandmother, Marjorie Zocher.
Memorial services will be held Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 10:00 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Merrill, Wisconsin. The Rev. Brian Stolarczyk will officiate. Friends may call on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 from 4-8 PM at the Waid Funeral Home Chapel and from 9:00 AM until the hour of services on Thursday, December 1 at Trinity Lutheran Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to The Maverick Flight Team of Mankato, Minnesota, the Merrill Wrestling Association, Trinity Lutheran Church or the charity of your choice.
The Waid Funeral Home is assisting the family. On line tributes may be made at www.waidfuneral.com