Dr. Bernie Matthies, Professor Emeritus of Dana College, passed away on Tuesday, July 22nd. He taught at Dana for 36 years. Many of those years, he led the Education Department as its chair. Many students outside of education would remember him teaching statistics.

Dr. Matthies' funeral will be held this Saturday, July 25th, at the west campus church of Lutheran Church of the Master in Omaha at 1:00 pm. Rev. Kip Tyler, a Dana alum and friend of Dr. Matthies, will lead the funeral service.

#2 Death notice printed in the July 22, 2026 Omaha World-Herald

Bernard D. Matthies

December 12, 1935 ~ July 21, 2026

Heafey-Hoffman-Dworak-Cutler West Center Chapel, Omaha, Nebraska.

#3 Obituary printed in the Washington County Enterprise

Posted Wednesday, July 22, 2026 11:55 pm

Bernard Dean "Bernie" Matthies, 90

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Bernard Dean “Bernie” Matthies, age 90, passed away peacefully on July 21, 2026, in Omaha, Ne.

Born on December 12, 1935, in Ohiowa, NE to Bernhard and Mary Matthies, Bernie grew up on the farm and later moved to the small village of Ohiowa where he enjoyed playing baseball and basketball through high school. After graduating from Ohiowa High School Bernie attended Doane College in Crete, NE. Bernie would later go on to earn his Doctor of Education from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Bernie met Mary Ann Matthies while they were both teaching in Plattsmouth, NE. They were married on July 31, 1960, in Lexington, NE.

Bernie spent his entire career in education first teaching history at Plattsmouth High School and in 1962 started a career as a professor at Dana College in Blair, NE. He remained on the Dana campus for 36 years progressing from instructor to full professor of Education and Psychology before officially retiring and receiving Emeritus Professor status in 1998.

Bernie enjoyed his time on the acreage in Blair with his wife Mary Ann and his two children, Susan and Grant. The acreage created many hobbies such as gardening, raising dogs and 4-H projects with the kids. Bernie was an avid hunter in his early years, hunting deer and upland game. Bernie was also an aspiring artist and woodworker. Many people have enjoyed his duck decoy carvings, wood carved figurines and the many trees filled with Christmas ornaments.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernhard and Mary Matthies and his sister, LaVera Gewecke.

Survived by his wife, Mary Ann Matthies, his children Susan (Tom) Hottovy and Grant (Heather) Matthies, Grandchildren Sara (Anson) Opara, Melissa (Kevin) Zientarski, Lindsay (Dustin) Dawson, Morgan (Will) Brueggemann, Blaine Matthies, Ava Matthies, Max Matthies along with 5 great-grandchildren.

Funeral Service will be at 1:00 pm on Saturday, July 25th at Lutheran Church of the Master, West Campus. 1200 N 181st Ct, Elkhorn, NE 68022

Reception with refreshments immediately following the service.

Interment will be at the Ohiowa Cemetery at 10:30 am on Monday, July 27th.

Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler, West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road, Omaha, Ne 68124. (402)-391-3900

#3 Funeral leaflet

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In Loving Memory of Bernard Dean "Bernie" Matthies

Born December 12, 1935 Ohiowa, Nebraska ~ Entered Into Rest July 21, 2026 Omaha, Nebraska

Age 90 years, 7 months, 9 days

Funeral Service 1pm Saturday, July 25, 2026 Lutheran Church of the Master, Omaha, Nebraska. Officiant: Rev. Kip Tyler.

Pallbearers: Max Matthies, Anson Opara, Kevin Zientarski, Dustin Dawson, Jake Fields, Will Brueggemann

Following the service, please join the family for a luncheon at Lutheran Church of the Master

Graveside Service and Interment 10:30am Monday, July 27, 2026 Ohiowa Cemetery, Ohiowa, Nebraska

~~~obituaries and funeral leaflet courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska~~~