IN MEMORIAM
EXPANDED EULOGIES
“In Memoriam” listings are expanded paid obituaries, phrased as the family requests, and may include enhanced information or photographs that might not fit within free death notices.
Matthew Classen
Funeral Mass for retired Marion banker Matthew H. Classen, 92, who passed away May 10, 2025, at Cox Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 17, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church (htscatholic.com) in Springfield under the direction of Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home (gormanscharpf.com).
Visitation will be 10:45 to 11:154 a.m. at the church, 2818 E. Bennett St.
Matt was born Feb. 12, 1933, in Charleston, Arkansas, to Frank and Laurine (Gromlich) Classen.
For health reasons, Matt was not able to attend college as planned after high school. He secured a job as a messenger at First National Bank in Fort Smith, Arkansas, beginning a 52-year banking career.
He quickly advanced to become a national bank examiner in Kansas City.
While bank-examining, he met the love of his life, Mary Kay Warren, and they were united in marriage Aug. 26, 1956. They celebrated more than 68 years of marriage.
In 1963, he purchased controlling interest in Marion National Bank and became president and chief executive officer, a position he held until retiring in 2002.
At age 30, Matt was listed by the publication Bank News as the youngest bank president in Kansas.
During his many years in his beloved Marion, Matt was very active in many organizations, serving as a board member and president of the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, Marion Country Club, and St. Luke Hospital.
Matt also was very active in St. Mark Catholic Church and Holy Family Parish, and he held many board positions in Kansas Bankers Association.
Matt had many interests in life, first being his family and friends.
Matt did not know a stranger or at least not for long. He loved discussing finance, banking, current events, farming, ranching, and all sports, including his beloved Kansas City Chiefs, Royals, and Kansas State sports teams. He personally enjoyed and excelled in golf and tennis.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Kay, of Springfield; son Michael Classen (and wife Angela) of Grand Junction, Colorado; and daughter Sherry Bureman (and husband James) of Springfield, Missouri.
Also surviving are grandchildren James Thorpe (and wife Camey) of Kansas City, Missouri; Kari Ann Classen of Wichita; Marine Corps Major Chase Bureman (and wife Kate) of Wilmington, North Carolina; and Kirsten Bureman of San Francisco, along with three grandchildren, Daniel and Liam Thorpe and Aiden Bureman.
Memorials can be made to Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri (ccsomo.org), 424 E Monastery St, Springfield MO 65807 or Ozarks Food Harvest (ozarksfoodharvest.org), 2810 N Cedarbrook Ave, Springfield MO 65803.