Obituaries

It is with profound grief that we announce the sudden and unexpected passing of Matt on July 18, 2024, while working in New Brunswick.

Our “Mattie” was born early one morning in November 1977 to Jack and Gail Brawn. It's safe to say it was the last time he was early for anything.

Matt was the second of two boys and the third baby born to Jack and Gail, rounding out the family with the distinction of "three - three and under" Destined to crack his head open, fall off a bunk bed, and break his arm three times before he turned three. It could have been possibly related to his "older" but still young siblings.

Matt's early years were spent in Brandon and Clear Lake, where he learned to ski, both cross-country and water. Many hours were spent with family and friends on the boat and in the water. After all, Gail didn't buy the boat to watch us "sit in it." Participation in the water was not just expected but mandatory. He did grow into an avid boater, water lover and an excellent water skier, so the tactic did work!

Matt came by his love of travel early. As the youngest and the most transportable, he was a constant travel companion to Gail, traveling overseas more times than anyone could count to visit Jack as he worked all over Europe, drumming up buyers for farmland.

Spending all those summers at Clear Lake (lacking other playmates) cemented the three siblings as clear and close friends—Matt's favorite toys and games to play with always involved cars.

In 1985, the family uprooted and moved to Regina, bringing Matt closer to his beloved cousins and allowing him to pursue his love of a new sport: downhill ski racing. When joining the Regina Ski Club with his brother, Duncan and cousins Kathleen and Brad, Matt found the one sport that fit best and was passionate about for the rest of his life. Skiing, along with working with cars in class at high school; Matt found two things he would love and excel at for the rest of his life. This move also introduced him to another lifelong love: his Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Matt started his career in cars doing oil changes at Walmart then he moved on when offered the opportunity to drive a pilot truck for Richards Transport. Gail recalls Matt coming up the stairs one morning with a small duffel bag, announcing he was on his way to Kingston, Ontario, like he was headed to the grocery store. That was Matt – no fuss. In 2004, the opportunity to start working for Jack in the insurance business further cemented him in our family as THEE Jack of all trades. Matt was the person we called for help, no matter the time, place, or reason. He loved working with Jack; long hours on the road together and many nights away together, time they were lucky to have. These years were filled with more travel to Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Monaco, Greece, France, Mexico, with Matt handling the driving whenever required. When Jack retired, Matt again gravitated back to life on the road, with Richards Transport, driving a pilot truck and sending back photos and random info from wherever he might end up. He - always let us know what the local food scene had to offer, bringing back groceries and treats not readily available in Canada.

Matt was our guy. The guy we called when we had a flat tire (he showed up with four new ones), the guy we called when your computer glitched out, the guy we called when we were locked out, the guy we called to help us move – (sometimes to Alberta & back again)! He would gladly man a snowblower, shingle every roof, hang your pictures, move a garage, backhoe out a basement, and drive Jack and Gail whenever asked. Matt never complained; he loved being around people and being involved. Helping was what he wanted to do, and being relied on was his specialty. We didn't lose the guy who did everything for us; we lost the guy we wanted to help us because we wanted to be with him.

Matt had a wicked, dry sense of humour and quick wit that will never be matched. His true love of food, love of his dogs and love of nephew, August will be missed. He cherished being with his family and friends and finding comfort in their presence. He wouldn't miss Thanksgiving or helping make lefse for anything. He was so proud of and happy to be with his extended family. We are thankful for the extra time he spent with us this past spring due to a badly broken leg – acquired, yes, by downhill skiing. During this time, he would pick up nephew August from daycare, stepped in with August's baseball, and was instrumental in him learning to ride a bike. We will treasure forever the brief extra time he had to spend with family and close friends.

Pre-deceased by his grandmothers, Cleo and Eileen, and his mother Gail, Matt is survived by his father, Jack; his brother, Duncan; sister, Erinn-Jane (Darin); half-sister Jackie (Juan) his close aunts, uncles, cousins, but more importantly their children, who Matt was immensely proud of, as well as many friends. Lastly, he will be greatly missed by Matts favorite nephew August, who will always remain in awe of his uncle Mattie, missing his unconditional love, uninterruptable attention, Lego skills and car and gaming knowledge.