Matthew J. Diker, 82, of Homosassa, Florida, passed away on Thursday, July 2, 2020 at HPH Hospice Care Center in Brooksville, Florida. A native of Staten Island, New York, he was born June 18, 1938 to Matthew and Alice (Mulligan) Diker, one of two children. Matt, as he was known to many, served his country proudly and honorably in the United States Navy from 1957 to 1962 as a hospital corpsman. This was followed by a dedicated 35 year career as Facilities Supervisor for W.H. Brady Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mr. Diker moved to Homosassa in 2006 from Saukville, Wisconsin with his beloved late wife of 55 years, Diane C. Diker, who passed away on January 7, 2015. Matt strongly believed in faithful service to his church and his community, and spent many hours serving others his entire life. When raising his family in Saukville, he spent many years as a volunteer fireman and was an active member of the Loyal Order of Moose. While in Florida, he was a devoted parishioner of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Homosassa and a proud and active member of both the Knights of Columbus and St. Vincent de Paul Society. Matt was also a member of the American Legion, and the U.S. Navy Hospital Corps “Corpsmen United” Association. Mr. Diker loved the Green Bay Packers, fishing and building model trains. He was also especially proud of his association with the Citrus County Sheriff’s Department as a member of their Community Crime Watch Division. In addition to his parents and his wife Diane, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Tanya Ewig of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a sister, Alice Wolner of Rome, New York. Matthew is survived by four children: Matthew Diker (wife Kelly), Winneconne, Wisconsin; Elizabeth Kersting-Peterson (husband Ross), Cloquet, Minnesota; Michael Diker (wife Lucy), Greenville, South Carolina; Diana Derbas (husband John), Covington, Louisiana and grandchildren Catlin Heinecke (husband Mike), Vergas, Minnesota; Zachary and Nathan Derbas, Covington, Louisiana; Jacob Diker, Winneconne, Wisconsin and Isaac Diker, Greenville, South Carolina, as well as his companion of two years, Lavonne Knowles of Zellwood, Florida. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Thomas The Apostle Catholic Church of Homosassa on Friday, October 23, 2020 at 10:00 A.M. with Fr. Glenn Diaz, Celebrant. Military honors will follow at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Florida with the United States Navy Military Honors Detail and the American Legion Post #155. Wilder Funeral Home, Homosassa, Florida. www.wilderfuneral.com
