As a family practice physician for over 55 years in the Chicago area, Joseph Matheu truly enjoyed serving others. He loved his patients like family and often times would make house calls. He was married to his wife Ginny for 60 years and had 3 children.
He had a passion for history and became an avid collector of historical artifacts in which he spent over 30 years curating. He transported parts of his private collection several times to the elementary schools of his grand children, where students could view the displays of museum pieces up close. When I asked him why he did this, his response was, ”We need to study history so we don't repeat our mistakes.”
He also shared his private collection with several small galleries to raise money for The Volunteer Blackfeet Medical Corp. He and his son Dr. James Matheu founded The Volunteer Blackfeet Medical Corp. over 25 years ago. They would take a large group of volunteers to provide free medical care, carpentry, painting and whatever else was needed to the Blackfeet Indian community of Browning Montana. Because of his dedication to serving the Blackfeet community, he was given an honorary tribal name of “Medicine Eagle.”
Sadly, he passed away this last December in 2024. He is greatly missed by so many, especially family.
From the children of Dr. Joseph Matheu: Catherine, James and Robert.
