Matthew William Reif

Matthew William Reif, age 54, of Verona, Wisconsin, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. He was born on January 16, 1972, in Tarrytown, New York, to Bill and Mary Nell Reif. Most of his growing up years were spent in Wausau but included many visits to northern Minnesota to visit grandparents and Reif, Randall, and Hoolihan cousins.

A 1990 graduate of Wausau East High School, Matt went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was captivated by music at an early age. He loved to sing and knew all the lyrics from his childhood favorite "Bad Bad LeRoy Brown" to all the music he later came to love. Matt was a talented pianist and spent countless hours at his many keyboards performing and sharing his passion with others. Over the years he played in multiple bands in college, and in Phoenix, Wausau, and Madison. Lately, he was devoting time to composing original music as well as recording his own versions of music by his favorite musicians.

Matt and Holly Schmidt were married in June of 2006, and their family grew to include three boys, Myles, Evan, and Nolan. Matt and Holly lived in Madison while Matt worked for Music Notes and Holly taught Music at the Wingra School. They returned to Wausau in 2013, and Matt worked for Wausau Coated Products for two years. Subsequently, the family moved to Madison where Matt took on the role of a stay-at-home dad and performed with a local Madison band.

More than anything else, Matt cherished being a father to Myles, Evan, and Nolan and was recently excited about introducing them to the sports he loved as a child. He was deeply committed to supporting, encouraging, and loving his three boys and treasured every moment he spent with them.

Matt was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Alice and Jerry Hoolihan, and his paternal grandparents, Jane and Myles Reif. He is survived by his wife and the mother of his three children, Holly Reif of Verona, Wisconsin; his sons, Myles, Evan, and Nolan, his parents, Bill and Mary Nell Reif, his brothers, Ben Reif (Amy), Will Reif (Laura), and nieces and nephews, Patrick, Benjamin, Allie, and Christopher Reif and Shea, Ryan, and Billie Reif, all of Wausau., as well as beloved cousins, aunts and uncles, many extended family members, dear friends, fellow musicians, and all whose lives were touched by knowing him.

Matt was kind, thoughtful, sensitive, empathetic, and creative, traits which were evident from the start. Most importantly he will be remembered for his devotion to family and particularly his three boys.

Visitation will be from 4pm to 5pm at the Church of the Resurrection in Wausau on Friday, July 10. The service will begin at 5pm followed by a reception at the Wausau Club. All are welcome.

Memorials may be directed to the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin for the "Matt Reif Music Scholarship" for students of Wausau East, Wausau West, and Newman High School. The scholarship will also support younger musicians who need help attending the Wausau Conservatory of Music.

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