Mathew "Mat" Ross Bastian

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Mathew Ross Bastian, 51, of Neenah, on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Neenah, Wisconsin. His family was by Mat's side as he ended a six-year battle with cancer fought with courage, humor, grit, and grace. 

Mat was born at Waupun Memorial Hospital on September 1, 1974. A graduate of Laconia High School in Rosendale, WI, Mat would later attend the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh, completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. While working as a horse groomer at a local farm, Mat met his muse, best friend, and the love of his life Rebecca, whom he would marry in Winchester, WI, on April 4, 1998. Together they raised two girls, Quincy and Abigail. Mat taught his daughters to be strong and independent, including them in car and home repair projects, and encouraging them to be self-reliant and practical. He loved watching them develop into their own persons, with many late-night conversations about all manner of topics, including things such as their shared appreciation of the comedic genius of Jack Black and Mat’s latest finds at Half Price Books. Art ran through Mat's veins. He was musically talented from childhood - playing in numerous bands and in his younger days hitting local open mics. Throughout his life he took pleasure in expanding his musical knowledge and ability. Mat also ran his own equine photography business, and would travel with the horse show circuit, family in tow, to practice his craft. His creative drive and attention to movement in the natural world informed Mat’s hobbies throughout life: gardening, baking, whittling, bird watching, and canoeing. When not immersed in art or nature, Mat enjoyed volunteering at the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, and spending time in World of Warcraft with his guild mates. In the midst of fighting cancer, Mat loved having the opportunity to shoot his first buck while hunting with his brothers. Mat spent a number of years working in a technical support position in the food packaging industry, but found his true calling when he entered state service, working first at Winnebago Mental Health Institute, and later at the Wisconsin Resource Center, where he served as an assistant librarian, which offered him a means of sharing his love of music, art, and literature with others.

To know Mat was to know an unassuming soul with an impeccably dry wit. Always overthinking. Always second guessing himself. He never wanted to make himself the center of attention, but everyone who knew him for any length of time came to love and appreciate his unique way of seeing the world and his often-hilarious commentary on its foibles. He was known to consistently find quiet ways to show compassion to others, to always have a soft spot for the underdog, and to have a real gift of being present to other people. He died fiercely loving the people around him, and in the hope of sharing in the resurrection of Christ, whose love for others Mat’s life so well embodied. 

Mat is survived by his loving wife Rebecca, the daughters that he adored Quincy (Jackie) Yang and Abigail (Joshua) Bastian-Bonafede, his grandson Michael Yang, his mother Sue Towne-Bell, his sisters Becky (Mike) Maas, Jennifer Hildebrandt-Hewett, and Tina (Jim) Kaiser, his brothers Jonathan Hildebrandt, Robert Hildebrandt, and Mike (Ash) Hildebrandt, his in-laws Blaine and Cheryl Flegal, and his brother-in-law Scott Flegal, along with many nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews.

Mat is preceded in death by his father, Thomas Bastian, and his grandparents Clayton and Harriet Bastian and John “Jack” and Betty Towne.

A visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at Our Risen Savior Catholic Church, N6499 Co Rd Y, Eldorado, WI 54932.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at Our Risen Savior Catholic Church with Fr. Chris Raj officiating. Burial will follow at St. John Cemetery.