Obituary

Matthew Lee Scherer, 38, of Denver, Colorado, passed away on December 7, 2021. He was born on November 21, 1983, in Lawrenceville, Illinois to Dan and Holly (Hudson) Scherer. He attended Red Hill High School and excelled in both sports and academics. He exceeded 1,000 points in basketball, tied school records in golf, and maintains several track & field records in both sprints and jumps. He graduated in 2002 as a Valedictorian and received a Presidential and Athletic Scholarship to the University of Oregon, where he competed on the Track & Field team and was a 2-time Academic All-American. As a NCAA Division I athlete, he was a 9-time All-American and broke five University records – two of which remain intact: both indoor and outdoor 4x400m relays.

After graduating in 2006 from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Management, he pursued a professional running career from 2006 – 2014 with the Oregon Track Club and Nike, and later with Brooks Running. He started as a competitor and later transitioned to a pace-setter where he was considered the #1 ‘Rabbit’ in the world. As a professional athlete, he was a 2-time Team USA Member and competed in the 2008 USA Olympic Trials, finishing 12th in the 800m. He was also a cross country assistant coach at Gig Harbor High School, helping them to a national championship. He also was an assistant track coach in the Los Angeles area. Matthew's running career took him all over North America and parts of Europe and Asia. Overlapping his professional track & field career, he worked 14 years for RunnerSpace.com, which provides track & field coverage for high school, college, and professional events. He took great pride in his job and was a jack of all trades, working as a Project and Logistics Manager, a Digital Ads and Analyst Manager, and Chief Operations Officer.

He is survived by his 4-year-old daughter: Gemma Mielle of Denver, Colorado; his parents: Dan & Holly (Hudson) Scherer of High Ridge, Missouri; two sisters: Amanda and husband Gary Downs of Aurora, Illinois and Julia and husband Andrew Ferguson of High Ridge, Missouri; a niece & nephew: Bianca and Edward Ferguson; along with numerous other family and friends. He was preceded in death by paternal grandparents: Russell and Roberta Scherer and maternal grandparents: Arnold and Nina Hudson and Doris Hudson.

Service arrangements will be coordinated by Sivert-Macey & Steffey Funeral Home in Sumner, Illinois. The visitation will be on Saturday, December 18, 2021 beginning at 10:00am CST at Red Hill High School, located at 908 Church Street in Bridgeport, Illinois 62417, with funeral service following at 1:30pm CST at the school, and may be viewed with the following link: https://www.facebook.com/emmonsmaceysteffey. A private burial will be conducted. Memorial donations may be made to Gemma’s College Fund or to Red Hill High School Athletic Department at the service or included with condolence cards. Cards of condolences may be sent to 6083 Timber Hollow Lane, High Ridge, Missouri 63049.

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