Matthew D. Haataja

It is less than a month, and November 16th and it’s always so hard for me…. Each year since you went to be with Heavenly Father, The second year on June 17th, the whole family, including your Father and his two children and Mary, Lennin, Kevin, Kyle and Raymond, and, of course me, hired the owner of a small yacht and we did as you requested. We took your ashes and went to Newport Beach…. I thought it was most appropriate since as when you were all children, we always went there to play at the beach… as per your request you wrote “Throw my ashes and spread in the Pacific Ocean at a later date by his family. We called to see if Matthew and David could come along, but they never returned our phone calls. It would have been good for them… We felt one with you… On your birthday of the same year, I was at peace in the temple…. I will be there this year too… No noises, cell phones, etc. to distract me from my time with you… I love you my son and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t cry for you…. You are missed my dear son… I love you and miss you tons… Love Mom

Tomorrow will be a year to the day that we lost you… I miss you so much and wish you were still here with us. Our lives have forever changed. Our hearts are broken with the piece belonging you missing. You were my only son. I remember the day you were born and telling your dad these words “Matthew David is finally here.”

So many wondrous memories… Thank you for picking me to be your mother. You made both your Father and I real proud. I love you my son…

Tomorrow will be 3 months that you’ve been gone. Really hard for me to cope with. I love you and miss you sooooo much!!!!!!

I keep getting mail for you. I finally called them and said you’re not here anymore. They looked up your ssn and saw that. I miss you and love you soooo much!!!!

Matthew, I miss you. You have no idea how much. I will talk to you soon. Love ya, Saima

Today, as I was taking down Christmas decorations, I thought of you. 2 years ago you helped me take them down. As I was putting away X-mas stuff,I came across a card that Dad had sent you that year. It made me cry. It’s 2010 now, I miss you Matthew!!!!! Love, Saimaa

Well, it’s Christmas Eve, and I can’t stop thinking about you. I miss you bro. You are in thoughts along with Grandpa Elmer, Uncle Sam, and Grandma Bonnie. I love you all. Love, Saimaa

Hey Matthew, tomorrow will be one month since you’ve been gone. I’m okay now, but it’s still hard. I love you! Rest in Peace!!!!

Oddly enough, I find myself drawn to this site just to read the words that people have said about you. People loved you and enjoyed your company and I know without a doubt that you are missed…although somehow missed doesn’t even come close to what I feel. I know it will be awhile, but I look forward to the day that I can see you again and talk.
A side note to those of you who have written something here. Thank you so much for sharing your memories and inside jokes. I know that it has brought my family joy during this insanely difficult time. So thanks!

Hey Matt, it’s been 3 weeks now. I had a dream about you last night. It was a weird dream. You were still alive. You hugged me. I woke up feeling both sad that you aren’t here, but happy that we hugged. I love you Bro. Rest in Peace. Love you, Saimaa

It’s been over 2 weeks since you passed away. The little things I see around me are reminding me of you. Today when I was picking up the kids from school, I saw a beer truck, that had honey beer on the side. It reminded me of when you brought over that Michelob sampler, and I made Beer cheese soup. I miss you more than you know. Take care bro. Love ya, Saimaa

Matt, I have so many pictures of you. All those memories take me back to when we partied. You use to bring Rex over. We all had a blast. You and I were really close back then. I will cherish those memories. You will always be in my thoughts. Love you Bro. Take care up there. And please take care of all of us. We all love you.

I miss you bro. I miss your laugh and your bantering with Ray. I miss you at dinner time. I miss you washing my coffee cup everyday so its clean for me in the morning.I miss all the little things. I miss talking with you. I can’t clean your room and I can’t do your laundry. I can’t even fold up your wheel chair. I just miss you so much. I love you Matthew.

To my missed friend Matthew, you introduced me to my wife (your sister). Thank you! I cherish every hour that we jammed together. Remembering that songs that we played together.And the fun that we had together making our music.Our main song will remain in my heart as long as I live. I will always cherish and love my brother-in-law. Love ya

It hit me really hard when I heard my uncle Matt had died. I really miss him. He had a really good sense of humor. He told funny jokes and was always in a good mood. I miss him everyday. I shed tears for him several times a day. We were close. He taught me a lot of things, like card games. I’ve prayed to him a lot. I hope he liked the prayers. I bet he’s up there some where playing his guitar. That was one of the many talents he had. He was great at playing music on his guitar. He and I shared a lot of wonderful memories together. Like my birthday, Christmas, Halloween, and many other holidays. He had a great hear too. He picked Jenna and I up from school once when my mom was having trouble with her ear. He also had a great smile. I MISS YOU. Love Ya!!

Hey Matthew, it’s Thanksgiving. We missed you. I said a prayer for you. Hope you liked it. We saved a drumstick for you!!!!! Love ya. Rest in Peace!!!!!!

It hit me really hard when I heard that my dear Uncle Matt had died. I miss him a lot. I think about him everyday and about the wonderful memories we have shared together. I shed tears for him everyday because it hits me hard everytime I think about the fact that he is dead and that I never got the chance to say goodbye to my wonderful uncle. I will miss him everyday for the rest of my life. I loved him so much. He was one of the best uncles a person could ask for. We were close. He taught me a lot of things, like card games. I bet he is up there somewhere playing his guitar with the great talent that he has. It’s hard to believe that he is already dead. I miss him everyday. Even though it’s different now, it still seems like he is with us watching over us and helping us make the right decision. I sometimes think that I can feel him with me as I go from day to day. I MISS YOU UNCLE MATT!

He was a great uncle to me and I’ll miss him forever because he allways made me and my sister laugh and was a great person to everyone around him.He always had a great sence of hummer.I hope he looks down at us and wishes us all luck because we all have a short time.

I never had the pleasure of meeting you but I did hear about you from Saimaa when she and I were good friends as teens, Saimaa and I lost contact with each other for 20 years and recently we found each other on line. I believe losing you may be one reason I had to come back into her life. You are very loved by Saimaa each time we have talked on the phone she always talked about you. My prayers go out to all your family, I will pray for your family each night so they can get through this difficult time.

Matthew is one of those people who I’d never forget. He “depostited”, so-to-speak, a special piece of himself in my life that helped shape who I am. I’m sure he’s done that for countless people without ever knowing it. Matthew is one of my favorite patients I’ve ever taken care of. It’s not often a nurse can relate to a patient as I related to him. I enjoyed those days of debating who was better- Dave Matthews or Slayer (clearly Dave:)). All of us in Sub Acute have Matthew and his family in our hearts and prayers at this time. I’m so sorry for your loss.

I went back to work today. I could not stop thinking about you. I miss you!!!!!!

These are my thoughts and feelings about my brother. He was a great guy who had his faults, just like everybody else. I put something in here before to honor him and my family. I just saw that it was erased. I will love Matthew until the day I die. There will not be a day that I don’t think about him. I know his kids will miss him. He taught my girls to play card games. The love that. He was a real prankster. Loved to make people laugh. Always did, ever since he was a little boy. Rest In Peace dear Brother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

no more chasing phantoms with a stick. rest my friend.

My heart goes out to the family of matt. I didnt know him that well but i did know him through his sister Saimaa. He was such a nice, and polite person and fun to talk to. i know he will forever be in all our hearts and be our guardian angel forever until we all meet again. i will miss ya matt and im really glad that i got to know you.

I only just knew you a short time while you were here and even that is not enough to really have known you.I liked the short conversations we had,even though we didn’t agree we still respected each others view point,I will always be humbled when I think of you and the struggles that you went through. When God takes something from your grasp,He’s not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to recieve something new. Matt take these words with you “The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you”Rest well my friend God Bless.

I am at a loss for words, which as you know is really difficult for me. I’m not sure how to express my deepest sorrow or regrets…I just know that you not being here has left a hole that can’t be filled. I know you are in a better place, completely whole with your legs back…I miss you Matthew so much more than all the words in any language can say. Just know that anytime I smell something like Morning Breeze I will think of you. 🙂 You will always be in my heart. I love you…Always, Emily

Matt, I am so sad. I remember always looking up to you while growing up. You always were one step ahead of everyone. Out smarting the world and I wanted to do the same. Always smiling and ALWAYS cool….. I miss you so much already. You’ll always be a part of our family, always. I have so much to say, just, right now I’m so confused and my heart broke when I heard the news.
God bless you brother… One day we’ll be with you again. You’re going to be missed more than you’ll ever know.

Joey Solis

Matts passing will be hard on many people as he was a very nice guy. We shared a common bond with our love of music and shared many stories music related.

We met a while back, did puzzles and talked and were connected somehow. We parted. We reconnected while he was still a St. Ben’s he knew I believed in God and had questions. We started having coffee and just talked a lot. He loved me and my kids like we were his own. He skipped a concert to help me. He loved us. We sat on the lakeside this summer, and made many dinners. He was so inspired by my son

Matthew, you will forever be in my heart. I will try and celebrate our birthday in honor of you. I Love you and always will.

Always,always loved you! Tell rest of family HELLO!

Hajee,

You will continue to live in the memories of many, to include myself. The days where I had to check my soda can for a cut in the can so I didn’t spill on myself, or silver ink on the lid, to messages on my print stating “Crow loves Fathead” are long gone, but are still talked about from time to time. I hear there are some pretty good bands up in Heaven. Rock-On my friend, Rock-on, and don’t be afraid to eat the homemade dishes at the pot-lucks you attend, it’s good food and not sabatoged.
Keep playing guitar, I’ll join the band when I get there if you need a keyboard player/singer.

You may not physically be here, but you are forever keeping a place in my heart. Matthew, When you died, you didn’t go alone, because a part of me went with you, the day god called you home. There are so many things that others don’t understand, Like the undeniable love that I have held in my heart for you all these years. I wish I could have helped, and healed your heart, but it was out of my hands. I know you will watch over the wonderful people in your life, Emily, Saimaa, Rachel, Mary, your wonderful boys Matt & David, and Ray, and everyone else that you held dear to your heart. I know your in heaven, watching over us. All may have lost someone that we loved, but we gained a guardian angel. I finally understand the true meaning of when you asked me to watch “Immortal Beloved”. Thank you for all the laughter, and good times, and for being you, the you, that we all knew and loved. I know your with god, and have not an ounce of pain in your body, or inside your heart, and that makes me feel a bit of comfort. I will see you again some day, when I get there. Give our boys a hug, and teach them to play guitar 🙂
Love you,
Love me.

Matthew I will love you and miss you always. Our birthday will always be hard for me. REST IN PEACE!!!!!

Dear Haataja Family:
I worked with Matthew for 10 years at Nahan and have been his friend since then. I visited Matthew when he was at St. Bens subacuete and in the St Cloud Hospital during his ordeal last year. I was proud of him for finding the courage to walk again. I want his family to know that one act does not define a person and he will always be remembered in my heart as a dear friend who would put a smile on my face. He has many friends at Nahan who will miss him a lot. You are all in my prayers and I pray that God will give you strength and peace.
Becky Sather Martinson