Mathias Charles Hermann, 81, gracefully passed from this world into the arms of Jesus Christ and his loving wife, Carol, on Tuesday, October 29, 2019. Math was born November 6, 1937 to the late Edna and Edwin Hermann.
Math met his soulmate, Carolee (Carol) Adele Binder, while they were both serving as church camp youth counselors in 1967. They married two months later and were married for 51 years until Carol’s death a year ago (October 28, 2018). Carol brought three children into her marriage to Math. His unconditional love and nurturing of Rick, Randy and Renee made him a beloved dad. After several years of marriage, Math and Carol welcomed their daughter, Jodie. Jodie adored her father and he cherished her. Math and Carol were inseparable and it is hard for all of us that know them to think of them as anything but the couple, Math and Carol.
Math was born and raised in St. Louis, along with his brother Bill (William J. Hermann, deceased 2011). He loved playing the drums in a jazz band and did so professionally after his Navy tour was completed. Math joined the family business, Math Hermann & Son, Inc. as a funeral director, and became President. In 1992, when he was 54, Math suffered a severe heart attack and in January 1993, he had a successful heart transplant performed at Barnes Hospital. Math gratefully lived with his new heart for 26 years. His family is forever thankful for the transplant team, and his amazing primary care physician, Dr. Sumera Younus, all of whom helped him live for a long time with his new heart. Math was known by many for his generosity, kindness, and being a true gentleman. His family always knew who was getting the check when out to dinner as his generosity had few limits.
Math was passionate about his jazz music. He had an extensive collection including bootleg original recordings of some of the greatest jazz musicians. He correspondent with other jazz enthusiasts around the world trading and bartering for rare recordings. He was well read on a variety of topics, including humor, the entertainment industry, politics, and read numerous biographies and auto-biographies. He was your first choice as a team member involving trivia. He had a standing date with Jeopardy and on most days, he would have been the winner.
Math along with Carol was invested in the St. Louis sports community having season tickets for many years attending the St. Louis Blues, Rams and Cardinals games. This past year gave Math a joy that he had waited for a long time. He was forever a great St. Louis hockey fan loving the St. Louis Flyers, St. Louis Billikens, and was truly a loyal St. Louis Blues fan from the beginning. He was overjoyed to see the Blues win the Stanley Cup this year and only wished that Carol had been with us to see it happen.
Math is survived by his four children and their families: Richard (Julie) Drake, Randolph (Mary) Drake, Renee (Gregory) Kleffner, Jodie Wolfe (outlaw Sonny). Math was an engaged, involved, active, and loving grandfather and great grandfather (Papa Math). He leaves behind thirteen grandchildren: Cassie (Chris) Aiello, Garrett (Katie), Taylor, Nicholas, Madeline, Benjamin, Thomas, and Charles Drake, Tricia (Ryan) Koebel, Laura and Michael (Brittany) Kleffner, Mat and Tucker Wolfe. He is survived by seven great-grandchildren: Christopher and John Aiello, Jackson and Maicy Drake, Grace and Isaac Koebel, and Joshua Kleffner.
A funeral celebration for Math will be at Kriegshauser Mortuary-West Chapel, 9450 Olive Blvd, St. Louis, MO. on Saturday, November 2, 2019, at 12:00pm. The family will receive visitors at the chapel at 10:00 am until the service. Interment private.
Family request orchids or in lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Mid-America Transplant Association (https://www.midamericatransplant.org).
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you:and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26
