Joseph A. Matejka

Joseph Anthony Matejka, born July 8, 1951 to Winifred and James Matejka in Cedar Rapids, Iowa was a most remarkable man. He died in Eugene, Oregon on June 16, 2026 after a brief illness.
Joe grew-up in Iowa with his sister Mary Anne by his side and surrounded by a lively and large group of cousins. He had no shortage of stories of adventures and harmless (mostly) shenanigans with his best friends by his side. Joe’s sense of adventure and joy was fostered from the beginning and stuck with him for the rest of his life.
Joe attended Regis High School where he was an active athlete and met the love of his life and soulmate Joyce Matejka (née Pribyl) at the tender age of 14. He then attended St. Thomas College and finished his degree in forestry at Iowa State. He and Joyce were married the summer of 1972 and moved to the west coast where the trees were bigger and the opportunities for a forester were plentiful. They moved to Coos Bay in 1976 and arrived in town on July 4th of the bi-centennial. Eventually Joe was offered a job at Georgia Pacific
managing timber lands, they purchased some land up Coos River, and they got to work settling-in.
Joe designed and drafted the blue prints of the home he built from the ground-up with no formal architectural training. Instead, he read a few books and figured out how to do it himself, another trait he carried with him for the rest of his life. Mid-build, Joe and Joyce welcomed their daughter Julia into the world, followed two years later by Michelle and their family was complete.
Joe was a dedicated and wonderful son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He had a love of hiking, old movies, bicycling, tall trees, music, beer, mountains, travel, motorcycles, woodworking, cribbage, friendship, and humor. Joe had a solid sense of self and never wavered in staying true to himself nor in his devotion to his family.
Joe is preceded in death by his parents and sister and is survived by his wife Joyce of Coos Bay, daughters Julia McMorran (spouse Ben, sons Owen and Miles) of Eugene and Michelle Liefwalker (spouse Dan, daughters Daisy and Evie) of Corvallis, and by his best dog, Jack.
Joe lived his life with joy, integrity, humor, and love- what a beautiful life he lived!
A memorial mass will be held Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at 12:00 PM at St. Monica Catholic Church 357 S. 6th St. Coos Bay.
Cremation rites have been held at Ocean View Memory Gardens Crematory, Coos Bay under the direction of Coos Bay Chapel, 685 Anderson Ave. 541-267-3131. 

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