Matthew Richard Staack

Matt was born January 11, 1990, the eldest and only son of Michael and Christina Staack, and the protective, big brother of Katie. Bright, outgoing, gregarious, and kind, Matt was larger-than-life since childhood.

At Gratton Elementary and later at Pitman High School, Matt’s athletic talents were consistently on display when he played any sport. Matt loved every sport he played, including baseball, basketball, swim, and track. His true passion was football where he continued to play at Menlo College. His effortless athleticism was always fun to watch from the sidelines.

A quick learner with an engineer’s mind, from his youngest days he designed Lego almond farms, hullers, orchard equipment, and elaborate railroads throughout the house. Matt often found his own creative way to solve problems.

Always with his rowdy bunch of boys, Matt was a notorious prankster, and had a knack for recruiting others to join his elaborate schemes. Family, friends, neighbors - no one was safe from a pop-up living room installed on your front yard, a Saran-wrapped car, or showing up in an outrageous outfit. His favorite holiday was April Fools’, one year even going as far as enlisting the help of his school principal in staging his suspension from elementary school to prank his own mother!

Matt saw the world as his classroom and those around him as his greatest teachers. So after two years of college he returned to Denair to join the family business, Grizzly Nut, and to farm his own acres of almonds while developing a custom farming operation.

To know Matt was to know his true passion was people. If you were his friend, he treated you as family; his friends were his brothers and sisters, their mothers his “mamas.” Matt’s signature greeting included a smile and a mandatory bear hug. He loved to celebrate and made the ordinary extraordinary; every birthday, new house, wedding, or random Tuesday, Matt brought his magic to each gathering. Matt seemed to know everyone; he could get you into any restaurant or bar, even if it was closed. Caring and present, he took the time to listen, saw the best in you, and brought light into your life.

Matt’s enthusiasm for life was electric. He loved to travel, especially his annual cross country road trips with his dad, snowboarding in Tahoe, golfing in Las Vegas, and the Discovery Bay Tiki Boat bashes with his buddies. A true foodie, Matt planned his trips around the food! He studied restaurant reviews and menus, knew exactly where to go and what to order, and you were never disappointed. A born competitor, Matt played on community softball and bowling leagues in Turlock, threw in darts competitions, and played organized backyard basketball games. Nothing rivaled Matt’s desire for victory more than the traditional Staack Family Sunday Game Nights. He played to win!

Matt loved being a son, brother, uncle, grandson, and cousin. He is survived by his father and mother, Michael and Christina Staack of Denair; his sister Katie, brother-in-law Tyler, and niece Tessa Dorsett of Hughson; maternal grandparents, Frank & Marie Assali of Hughson, CA; uncles Robert Staack and wife Jen of Belleville, IL; Jay Paaske and wife Paula of Eldridge, IA; Michael Assali and wife Shannon and son Grayson of Hughson, CA; cousins Dominic Assali and wife Nicole of Ceres, CA, Alexandria Yamamoto and husband Keith of Hughson, CA, Ethan Paaske and wife Jessica of Princeton, IA, Allyson Paaske, Garret Staack, Sarah Staack, and other loving family members.

A Rosary Service will be held at 6pm Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at Lakewood Memorial Park (900 Santa Fe Ave. Hughson). The Funeral Service will be held 10am Friday, March 18, 2022 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church (7820 Fox Road, Hughson). In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to “Matthew's Vision” at the Stanislaus Community Foundation. (100 Sycamore Ave., Suite 200, Modesto, CA 95354)