Matthew Ryan Taylor

Matthew Ryan Taylor

West Branch

Matthew Ryan Taylor, 42, passed away Friday, July 8, 2022, at his home while sleeping.

All are welcome to honor his life at Bethany Lutheran Church in West Branch with a visitation from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a Celebration of Life at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 13. A gathering will follow at Herb and Lou’s in West Branch. The Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Branch is caring for Matt and his family. The Celebration of Life will be live streamed via Bethany Lutheran Church West Branch Facebook page for those who can not attend in person. Please share your condolences and stories with the family at RememberingMattDogTaylor@gmail.com.

Matthew was born July 26, 1979, in Iowa City, the son of Donald and Jalice "Jill" Taylor. He was a 1998 graduate of West Branch High School and later Wartburg College. Matt was very active in many sports during high school and college playing baseball and football at Wartburg. He worked as a high school baseball coach for six years, ACT in Iowa City and most recently at Herb and Lou’s in West Branch.

He was an avid fan of music, giving anyone he loved a hard time and sports: West Branch Bears, University of Michigan athletics, St. Louis Cardinals and University of Iowa wrestling. He loved his community and his chosen family, and the countless friends who will miss his hugs, banter, laughter and stories.

He is survived by his parents, Jill Taylor of West Branch, Don "Butch" Taylor of Cedar Rapids; sister, Megan Taylor of Denver, Colo.; and three uncles and their families, Dave Jelinek, Bill Jelinek and John Taylor.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents and a nephew, Robert Montour.