Matthew Frederick Kaspar

Matthew Frederick Kaspar, age 89, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away Saturday, March 14, 2026. He was born on June 28, 1936, to Matthew Joseph Kaspar and Marie Josephine (Waldhauer) Kaspar in Brooklyn, NY.

Matthew grew up in Glendale, NY, with his older sister Theresa. The family spent summers together at their beach bungalow in Roxbury, Queens, where Matt gained a love of fishing, the outdoors and the ocean. Matthew married his high school sweetheart, Marie Weissenback, on January 17, 1959, and they moved to Ridgewood, NJ, in 1967, where they raised their family. A true family man at heart, Matthew cherished time spent together with his loved ones – especially summer vacations, including camping in Wellfleet, MA, and swimming in the ponds and beaches of Cape Cod, which became a treasured and annual favorite.

Matthew graduated from Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn, NY. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from St. John’s University, Queens, NY. In 1960, he enlisted in the Army Reserves and was honorably discharged in 1963. He worked as a Specialist Clerk with the New York Stock Exchange until his retirement in June 2001.

After retiring, Matthew remained active in the community, volunteering at The Church of the Presentation in Upper Saddle River, NJ, and the Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ. He and Marie traveled, going on educational adventures with Elderhostel and trips with friends and family. He was a member of the Hobbyist Club, and also enjoyed a long-standing poker game with their close group of friends – friendships that spanned more than 40 years. In 2007, Matt and Marie moved to Toms River, NJ, where they joined in a variety of community clubs and activities and enjoyed time spent with nearby family. In 2015, they moved to The Grand in Surprise, AZ, and embraced the beauty of the Southwest, as well as quality time spent with loved ones.

Matthew was predeceased by his sisters Marie Kaspar and Theresa (McKillop), and his niece Jacqueline McKillop (LaGattuta). He was also predeceased by his cherished son, Stephen Matthew Kaspar, in 2016. Matthew is survived by his beloved wife, Marie, of Surprise, AZ; cherished daughters: Laura Wardwell (Leslie) of Avondale, AZ; Mary Koeppel (James) of Desert Hills, AZ; and Joanna Fonseca (Eric) of Avondale, AZ. He also leaves behind six treasured grandchildren: Jonathon Koeppel, Christina O’Brien (Michael), Taylor Kruse (Matthew), Connor Wardwell, Matthew Koeppel (Marie) and Samuel Wardwell (Arianne); along with four precious great granddaughters: Danielle and Lucy Kruse, and Lily and Ella O’Brien. Matthew is also survived by his dear sisters-in-law, Virginia Weissenback of Surprise, AZ, and Karen Moen of San Mateo, CA, as well as many cherished nieces and nephews.

Matthew had a wonderful sense of humor and a great love of puns. He never missed an opportunity to brighten someone’s day with his wit; his warmth and care were felt by everyone he encountered. He deeply loved his family, friends and neighbors and always made sure that they knew it. He was a gentle and kind soul who always put others before himself. Matthew leaves behind a rich legacy of love, kindness, and unwavering devotion to his family and friends. His presence will be deeply missed, but his memory will live on forever in our hearts.

A celebration of life will be held for Matthew in June 2026. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014. https://hov.org/donate/donate-now/