Matt Yates

11.25.1980-07.24.2022

Matt, Anthony’s Dad, was a kind man with a deeply curious mind, strongly held convictions, and one of the biggest jokesters around. He loved to roughhouse and play with his children, family, friends, and co-workers. No one escaped those heavy hands once they got ahold of you. 

Matt loved a good debate and exchange of ideas and while his own convictions were strong, you may have never known what he actually believed because he enjoyed challenging beliefs and social constructs. He would come home after his second shift duty around 11pm and find Anthony and Kristina the only ones still awake in the house and strike up a discussion that lasted until the wee hours of the morning.

Matt’s physical fitness and strength were of great importance to him. He worked out regularly and was always making his health a priority. He has inspired his family for decades to make better decisions when it comes to food and lifestyle. Anthony credits Matt for how he prioritizes hydration and physical fitness. 

Matt was also a man of the people. He never met a stranger and could talk to anyone. Kristina and Anthony recall several times where at the gym, at a grocery store, at a restaurant or event that Matt would see someone he knows and catch up with them right then and there. 

Matt loved his family deeply and cared for his children. He took an interest in their lives and interests attending all manner of sports events, band concerts, musicals, anything his children were a part of, he was there to support. He knew the names of his children’s friends and cultivated relationships with them. Nearly all of Anthony’s groomsmen and friends had a close relationship with Matt and have their own special stories and jokes with him. 

Matt also had a close relationship with Kristina. In the ten years she has been a presence in the Reed/Yates family, Kristina and Matt had a relationship based in mutual respect and admiration. While Kristina was working at Valparaiso University, Matt would call to check in with her and was always excited when she came home for the weekend. 
Kristina remembers their many conversations with diverse topics such as mental health support (especially with law enforcement officers), enduring conspiracy theories, race/racism and its intersection with all things, systemic oppression, holistic and homeopathic medicines, music, movies, the 80’s & 90’s, etc.

Before Anthony and Kristina got engaged, Anthony discussed his plans to propose during their trip to Germany with both families. Anthony recalls that no one was more excited about the engagement than Matt. After the proposal, Anthony and Kristina called their family members and Tracy, Matt, and AK were in Las Vegas with extended family members. Matt of course had to be woken up, but his joy was evident. 

Little did the family know that later that month, Matt would be tragically ripped from their lives as he was killed in the line of duty on July 24th. A mere 17 days later. 

The past two years have felt the slowest and fastest of the family’s life. Everyday Matt is remembered and Anthony and Kristina seek to honor his memory. 

Anthony and Kristina are so grateful for the support their family has received from the community, from Matt’s co-workers and friends, from their friends, and that his legacy will be remembered and honored. On their wedding day, and everyday, he is missed.

Max Wirsing

02.20.1927-06.08.2006

Kristina’s Opa (German for grandfather) was a man of many talents. He was born and raised in a musical family from a small German village of around 300 people called Pilgramsreuth which is located in Northern Bavarian, a region known as OberFranken. The youngest son of Willi and Pauline Wirsing.

Opa and his 3 siblings learned to play a variety of instruments as well as sing but Opa’s main instrument was the violin. He loved to tell stories of growing up and this eventually sparked his passion for historical research and genealogy.

World War II broke out when Opa was 12 years old. His older brother Kurt was drafted and was killed. Opa spent many years in his adulthood searching for his brother’s unmarked grave and after many letters and calls, he was finally able to find his brother’s grave, along with two other German soldiers, in a small village in the Ukraine.

When Opa was 16, the war was nearing an end and Hitler began to draft younger and younger males into the army. Opa was drafted and sent to Munich as a clerk because he had talent for writing and organizing. His other older brother, Willi, had already been drafted and was stationed somewhere in Russia. Opa’s Dad was the mayor of Pilgramsreuth and he got word that Hitler planned to send all troops to Berlin for one last big assault. At this point the allies had begun to close in and Hitler wanted to make a show of strength. Opa’s Dad told Opa to do everything he could to stay where he was and make the case that he was more valuable as a clerk. Opa won his argument and ultimately Opa’s Dad saved his life.

When the war was over, Opa returned to Pilgramsreuth to find that several ethnically German people from Hungary (Donauschwaben), had fled Russian occupied Hungary for American occupied territory (Bavaria) and had been assigned to his village. Kristina’s Oma, who as a 16 year old had worked as a Nurse in a Lazarett (field hospital), met up with her family who were refugees from Hungary and had been placed in Pilgramsreuth. They fell in love, got married, and had a son (Peter) in 1949. Peter is Kristina’s Godfather.

Kristina’s Mom (Sylvia) arrived on the scene 6 years later in 1955. The little family had established themselves in Flensburg, Germany which is the most northern city and only a few miles from the Danish border. Opa had a job at the National DMV headquarters as a civil servant and worked there honorably for many years. Kristina remembers that she could ask him for the letters of any German license plate and he could tell what city they were from.

The family of four lived a nice life in Flensburg and traveled to visit their family in Pilgramsreuth and Freising every year. Peter and Sylvia both went to college and started their own families.

Kristina was the first grandchild born and when she was 6 months old traveled with her Mom to meet her grandparents in Germany for the first time. Oma and Opa were absolutely over the moon about their grandchild and spoiled her rotten.

After that Kristina spent every summer in Germany with her grandparents. Opa arranged all kinds of activities including being allowed to go to a local school, crafting classes, special trips to Denmark, all over Germany, and Wittenberg (after 1990 of course), ship rides, festivals, and so many more wonderful memories. Oma cooked delicious meals and took Kristina shopping for new clothes.

The three traveled to Pilgramsreuth and Freising so that Kristina could meet her family including her Great Uncles and Aunts and her many second cousins. Kristina learned the importance of tradition, heritage, and family.

Kristina and Opa did lots of fun things together, he would take her to the local beach in Flensburg called Solitüde, some of her favorite memories include playing mini golf, playing in the water, sitting in an Eis cafe and eating 2 scoops of vanilla, and identifying plants as they walked back to the car. They watched soccer together and sat in the backyard enjoying the nice weather. Opa taught Kristina how to ride a bike, how to rollerblade, and would take her swimming at a local salt water wave pool.

These summers and Germany are some of Kristina’s happiest memories. She had freedom in Germany to get on a bus as a 10 year old and go into the city and buy herself a crepe or walk around a store. Children in Germany have a lot more freedom and independence and these experiences shaped Kristina strongly.

In 2004, Kristina graduated from High School and Opa and Oma sold their house to move closer to Peter who was an attorney and lived on a Wellness/Spa island called Norderney. Soon thereafter Opa was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. As he battled the cancer he gave up smoking which he had been doing since he was 18.

In the Summer of 2006, both Sylvia and Kristina traveled to Norderney (a very rare occasion) and got to spend time with Opa, Oma, and Peter. It was evident that Opa was sick, but with the help of the walker he still got around the island. It was a very happy 2 weeks.

After Sylvia and Kristina returned to Springfield, around 10 days later Opa passed suddenly one morning after an emergency trip to the hospital. Everyone was in shock. It was almost as if Opa had been so happy for the visit and had made sure to make it so he could see his daughter and granddaughter one last time.

He was a wonderful father and grandfather and is deeply missed everyday.

Lexie Mae Walker Bryant

10.09.1928-03.19.2015
Kristina’s Grandma was born in Kentucky the eldest daughter of Jim & Minnie Walker. She was one of seven children and had to quickly grow to help take care of children and the household.

This dedication to care of others defined her life and she was a true matriarch and rock for the entire Bryant family. She cared deeply for each of her 5 children and her 17 grandchildren.

Kristina’s Dad has fond memories of her delicious cooking especially making biscuits from white Lilly flower, her delicious chocolate gravy, and a special gingerbread applesauce cake.

Grandma was always proud of Kristina and her brothers for performing well in school and with their many athletic and music related commitments.

Kristina’s Grandma loved to sing hymns and was a deeply devoted Christian of the Baptist faith tradition. When she was sick, Kristina’s Dad would gather the family to sing together. She especially loved “Softly and Tenderly Jesus is calling”, “Amazing Grace”, and “How Great Thou Art”.

Grandma passed in 2015 after a long battle with sickness and joined the church triumphant in joy.

Anthony’s Grandpa Max Eugene Reed passed away in the year 2000 when Anthony was 3 years old. Anthony doesn’t have any memories of his grandpa but he has many stories from his Mom and Nana that he cherishes.

Grandpa Max loved working on Vintage cars and listening to oldies especially Elvis. He was a man comfortable with speaking to all kinds a people and as Nana says “Never in his life met a stranger”.