Matthew J. Rolffs, 26, of Pella, died of injuries received in a single auto accident early Friday, May 27, 2016, in Pella. Funeral services were held Wednesday, June 1, at Federated Fellowship Church, Pella. Committal services with military honors followed at Oakwood Ceme-tery in Pella. The family prefers memorials for the Wounded Warrior Project in lieu of flowers.
Matthew Jay Rolffs was the fourth of five children born to Merlan Jay and Susan Marie (Bergeson) Rolffs. He was born Feb. 10, 1990, in Pella. Matt attended and graduated from Pella High School with the Class of 2008. While in high school, Matt worked at Fareway. He enjoyed mountain biking, building dangerous-looking ramps and obstacle courses, drinking copious amounts of pop with his buddies while playing hours of video games, full-on face paint wearing Airsoft war camps, Lego League, and paintball. Matt helped at the high school in the IT department, maintaining current computer systems and setting up new computer systems. He also took a mission trip with his dad to Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela, building a church-sponsored soccer complex for the community. The family enjoyed many summer vacations in Colorado over the years, with the final family trip in June 2015 with all 15 members of his family. In Colorado, family favorites were the many 10-15 mile hikes taken through the mountains, trips to the rainbow slides and go carts, and Poppy’s, the family’s favorite pizza joint.
Matt attended college at the School of Mines Technology, majoring in mechanical engineering in Rapid City, SD. While at the School of Mines, Matt delved into intense downhill mountain biking, cracking a few ribs along the way and dislocating a shoulder, but enjoying every minute outside of school on the trails and hills of South Dakota. During the summer, he took a second mission trip with his dad to Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela, to build an administrative building for the church to again support the ministry of Guillermo and Marcia Aguilar.
Matt was a decorated veteran of Afghanistan, enlisting in the army in 2010. He was stationed in Fairbanks, AK, with the 1st Brigade 25th Infantry Division in the 1st Battalion Infantry Regiment. He was involved in counter insurgency operations in support of the Tanjwai District in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Matt was a member of the Battalion Commanders and the Command Sergeant Major personal security detail. He was a rifleman in the TAC with responsibilities such as conducting dismounted patrols, acting as security for senior military personal, and maintaining and operating vehicles and weapons systems. Matt worked in the Tactical Operations Center relating information between command to units of the ground and air support in his area of operations. While serving in the Army, the local VFW out of Oskaloosa generously sent several packages to support Matt, which he shared with his unit.
After Matt’s tour in Afghanistan, he moved back home to Pella and worked at Kinze Manufacturing, NuMark Building Corp, and Sereg Builders, Inc. Matt then moved back to Alaska and worked for the Iron Workers Local 751 in Fairbanks, AK, working on heavy, high-steel construction. Matt returned to Pella and Sereg Builders, Inc. in the fall of 2015 with his final project being an extensive addition and renovation of his childhood home.
Matt loved to lift weights with his brother Luke. He loved to wrestle, tease, and play with his nephews and niece, and most of the time loved to listen to the numerous pieces of advice his sisters had to offer. 😉 Matt was often the first one in the kitchen when dinner was ready, waiting impatiently for his mom’s good cooking. Even more often, he was found having a long, in-depth conversation with his dad, dreaming, planning, scheming, and listening to his advice. When hanging out with his two brothers-in-law, it never took long for the three of them to dive head first into terrible Irish, Scottish, and Russian accents that had everyone rolling in laughter by the end. Matt was undeniably the life of the party with one of his greatest pleasures making everyone laugh, in good times and in bad. Matt found so much joy swinging a hammer, working with his hands, building furniture with intense attention to detail, all while belting out songs on the radio. Music was a constant in his life, blaring when life was good and consoling when life didn't go as planned.
If there is one thing we should remember about Matt, it is this: He gave until he had nothing left, and he still tried to give more. He lived to serve his friends, his country in war, and his family. Matt continued to give even in death with his desire to be an organ/tissue donor.
Friday, May 27, 2016, at the age of 26 years, Matt was taken from his family and friends too soon. Matt was a believer, accepting Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior being baptized at the Berean Baptist Church at a young age. We have the assurance that he is in Heaven.
He will be missed every second of every day by his dad, Merlan Rolffs of Pella; his sister, Sarah Nicole (Adam) Hartig and their four children: Aiden Winter, Anders Lennon, August Hendrix, and Anaia Summer Hartig of Cedar Rapids; his sister, Lindsay Marie (Sam) Bankes, and their three children: Devin Miller, Wallace Henry Bankes, and Oswell Jay Bankes of Oskaloosa; and his brother and best friend, Luke Aaron Rolffs of Pella. Matt leaves his grandfather, Richard Bergeson of Newton; his grandmother, Hermina Rolffs of Sully; several aunts and uncles; cousins; and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Susan Rolffs on Feb. 2, 2016, who now has her own personal bodyguard in Heaven; his sister, Laura Kristine Rolffs; his niece, Amarie Sue Rolffs; his grandmother, Lola Bergeson; and his grandfather, Henry L. Rolffs.
