WATSONVILLE — Matthew Dean Shallenberger died peacefully at his home on Wednesday, May 3, 2017, having lost his 13-year battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). He was 45.
Born in Watsonville on Aug. 23, 1971, Mr. Shallenberger attended schools in and around Santa Cruz County. Prior to his illness, he held a career in transportation logistics. He loved the outdoors, politics and watching the stock market. He was a lifelong Oakland Raiders, A’s and NASCAR fan.
He is survived by his son, Nicholas Shallenberger; daughter, Liliana De la Riva; his father, Charles Shallenberger; mother and step-father, Gloria and Martin Gonzalez; brother, Jerry Shallenberger (Ana); sisters, Debra Shallenberger, Cathy Howard (John), Monica Jones, Lorraine Carranco (Juan) and Veronica Shallenberger; and numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, nieces and friends.
Service will be held on at 1 p.m. Monday, May 8 at Mehl’s Colonial Chapel 222 East Lake Ave., Watsonville. A celebration of life will be held immediately following at the Veterans of Foreign Wars 1960 Freedom Blvd., Freedom.
Memorial donations can be made to ALS Research Golden West Chapter.
