Matthew Ray Loofboro

Matthew Ray Loofboro, age 31, died unexpectedly at home on March 6, 2023.  Matt was born November 14, 1991, to Lewis “Skip” and Debby (Weeks) Loofboro.  A graduate of Appleton West High School, he graduated from UW Oshkosh with a Bachelor of Science degree in Philosophy.  In his senior year, he was awarded the UWO Philosophy Department’s annual Socratic Award for outstanding work in his major.  Matt enjoyed studying and learning new things. He was truly a student of life. Following his graduation from college, he took and passed the LSAT and was set to attend law school at Marquette University. 

 

Matt and older brother Chris were often like two peas in a gigantic pod. Practical jokes, silly comments, sarcasm and all-around fun were par for the course.  In their adult years, Chris and Matt shared a bond that, while they may not have seen each other often, coming together brought out their connection-it was immediate comradery.

 

Matt loved all things Packer and enjoyed watching the games, analyzing player stats and all things associated with tailgating.  He also loved soccer and played in and throughout high school. Matt had a dog, Sasha, whom he loved dearly, and she was a ball of bright light in his world.  His love of animals also extended to Moose and he was often seen wearing moose slippers and antlers around the house. 

 

Matthew was a brilliant academic and true to his philosophy studies was a deep thinker -perhaps too much at times; but his insights also provided him the ability to express his wickedly acute sense of humor.  He was also a good friend who could make others smile, and his humility naturally drew others to him throughout his life.

 

Matt is survived by his parents, his brother Christopher and his wife Becky and, soon to arrive, niece Baby Girl Loofboro. He is further survived by Aunt Cindy (George) Brandenburg, Uncle Gary Loofboro, cousins: Lisa (Aaron) Pingel-DeKelver, Sara Brandenburg Heckel, Allie Pingel, Alex Pingel, and their families as well as other good friends and family. 

 

To consider the pain, desperation, despair Matt must have endured shakes Matt’s loved ones to the core. Knowing he felt it best to leave his family is simply unimaginable.  Matt, you are finally free of your demons. If you only would have known what so many others knew. We loved you so much, and you had so much to offer the world.

 

Know that mental illness is a disease. This silent epidemic is devastating. If talking about it, exposing it, shouting it from the rooftops will help even one person find a way to talk about their pain-and begin to find their way through it-a real difference can be made.

 

Per the CDC, the suicide rate among people 24-35 is the second highest of all age groups, second only to those 85 or older. Males are four times as likely to take their lives than are females.

 

It is impossible to prepare for the harsh reality of losing a child, at far too young an age. To lose Matthew in this manner is incomprehensible. It is a finality that is difficult to accept…to realize the devastating effects of perfectionism, which is not about “high standards” but about unrealistic standards and expectations. His death has impacted us in significant, painful, and permanent ways-too numerous to count. Suicide is a complicated end and is too frequently associated with stigma.

 

To anyone reading this: If you sense someone you care about is struggling, show kindness, patience, a willingness to talk, and more importantly listen without judgement. If only to save one family from the pain and anguish of losing a loved one through awareness to this senseless loss of life; then our beloved Matthew’s death will not have been in vain.

 

Somehow Matt believed we could live without him…now we have no choice. We will carry his legacy with us-his intelligence, sense of humor, deep goodness as well as his hidden fears, flaws and ultimately his untimely death.