First Posted: 1/27/2013

Matthew (Matt) J. Shimshock Jr., 74, of Plains, passed away on Monday, Jan. 21, surrounded by family.

He was born, raised and attended schools in Plains. He was the son of the late Matthew J and Cecilia (Walsh) Shimshock. He graduated from Plains Memorial High School, class of 1956.

Following graduation, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps for two years. After his military service, he attended King’s College. He had a distinguished career in the consumer finance industry for more than 35 years. He started his career in 1961 with General Acceptance Corp. (GAC) in the Baltimore area. In 1970, he returned to Plains and became a vice president, area manager for GAC and continued his career with Finance America and NationsCredit. He was responsible for territories in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and New England. He retired in 1998.

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Matt was very active in the local sports scene and in youth sports in Plains Township. He was a coach and an officer for the Plains Little League for years. He also coached and was an integral part in the early years of the Plains Yankees Youth Football organization. An avid golfer most of his life, Matt was a longtime member of the Wyoming Valley Country Club. While he was an active golfer, he looked forward to the annual golf trips to either Myrtle Beach or Florida with his friends. It was during these trips that he would get enjoyment just being around his buddies to laugh, eat and drink. In his later years, he would frequent the club to play cards and enjoy the company of friends regularly. He was a member of the Coughlin High School Booster Club as well. He was a frequent patron at Patte’s Sports Bar for years and was a member of the Sportsmen’s Club. During that time, the club made numerous trips to New York City as well as other venues for sporting events, which he truly enjoyed. He always came back from the trips with at least one great story to share with everyone.

He loved to have conversations about football and sports in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. He could discuss former area sports stars with anyone and loved to talk about the old days when his father was a coach at Plains High School. Matt was a huge Notre Dame fan and he made the trip to South Bend on a number of occasions. He loved watching old war movies and was a great fan of any John Wayne movie.

After retirement, he also enjoyed attending sporting events, especially those that involved his grandchildren. He loved going to college football games to watch his grandson as well as soccer games and track and field meets to watch his granddaughters. He loved to be surrounded by his family and friends. To him, nothing compared to being with his children and grandchildren during the holidays and other occasions.

His ability to tell stories, make people laugh and make people feel valued were unmatched. He was the type of person that others were drawn to because of his personality and genuine care that he felt for others. He was a constant presence in Plains Township for many years. He will be greatly missed by those that knew him and called him a friend.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Margaret Mary. He was a member of Ss Peter & Paul Church, Plains.

He is survived by his devoted wife, the former Jean Kuzminski. Matt and Jean recently celebrated 51 years of marriage on Dec. 30. In addition to his wife, Matt is survived by son, David Shimshock, and his wife, Lisa, Plains; daughter Donna Shimshock, Plains; daughter Lisa Mimnaugh and husband Daniel, Jenkins Township; sister Barbara Peck and husband Walter, Moosic.

Matt is also survived by six grandchildren, Jade and Matthew Shimshock; Kasey and McKenzie McDonough, Madison and Grace Mimnaugh, as well as great-grandchild, Emily McDonough. Matt adored his grandchildren and they adored him as well.

Matt’s family would like to thank all of his friends over the years for the enjoyment they brought to his life. They would also like to recognize and thank the numerous doctors, nurses and medical personnel that extended his time on Earth.

Funeral services for Matt were held Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013, from the Corcoran Funeral Home Inc., 20 S. Main St., Plains, with a Mass of Christian Burial in Ss. Peter & Paul Church, Plains. Interment was in the parish cemetery, Plains.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 71 N. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701.