Matthew E. Linn, Sr., aka “Grumpy”, age 78 of Mansfield, died Friday, December 19, 2025, surrounded by his children at Life Care Center of Bruceton. He proudly served our Country for 21 years in the U.S. Army. After retiring from the Army, he went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in social work. He loved helping people and worked as a social worker, substitute teacher and tutor. He served as an active member of his church during his lifetime. He was an avid reader who enjoyed fishing, spending time with his family and watching the History Channel.
Born November 24, 1947, in St. Paul, MN, he was the son of the late Clarence Edward Linn and the late Mary Elizabeth Hynes Linn.
He married Barbara Jean Whitbeck Linn on April 25, 1970. Barbara preceded him in death on July 20, 2015. Matt is survived by his children, Colleen Linn (Roger) Pollard of Irvine, KY, Shannon Linn (Robert) Torka of Mansfield, TN, Matthew E. Linn, Jr. of Fayetteville, NC, Sean R. Linn of Fayetteville, NC; two sisters, Kathleen Martinson of Isle, MN, and Mary (Jeff) Fjeld of Princeton, MN; three brothers, Marcus Linn of Mpls, MN, Michael (Cheryl) Linn of FL, and Pat (Gayle) Linn of St Paul, MN; seven grandchildren, Elizabeth (Dylan) Pritts, Victoria (Joshua) Frausto, Kyle Pollard, Robert Collin Torka, Drew Pollard, Damien (Emily) Linn, and Amelia Linn; five great-grandchildren, Mackenzie Frausto, Harvey Pritts, Jasper Pritts, Dominic Frausto, and Quinn Pritts. Along with his parents and his wife, he was also preceded in death by his sister, Debi Rattler.
Ridgeway Funeral Home, 201 Dunlap Street, Paris, TN, 38242, is handling the arrangements. There will be a memorial visitation on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at Ridgeway Funeral Home at 2:00 p.m. until the memorial service at 3:00 p.m.
Memorials may be made in lieu of flowers to Fisher House Foundation, Inc. 12300 Twinbrook Pkwy, Rockville,MD 20852 or fisherhouse.org (http://fisherhouse.org/).