West Chatham Chapel
Leadville, CO- Private First Class Matthew A. Sandberg, 20, of Leadville was killed in an accident at Fort Hood, Texas on Thursday, October 9, 2008. He is the beloved son of parents, Rick and Melody V. Sandberg, Sr. of Port Wentworth, GA and mother, Pamela England of Knoxville, TN.
Matthew was born on December 18, 1987 in Longmont, Colorado. He attended Outward Bound in Colorado and Job Corps in Darby, MT. He attended Full Circle Lake County and was a member of Boogie Down Productions. He graduated from Lake County High School in 2007 through the Colorado Mountain College DOOR Program. Matthew was an amateur mycologist. He enjoyed snow boarding, four-wheeling, fishing, hunting, basketball, and football. He attended St. George Episcopal Church.
Matthew enlisted in the United States Army on October 11, 2007 and completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He completed his Advanced Individual Training at Fort Bliss, TX as a Transportation Specialist. He was assigned to F Company, 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Calvary Division, Fort Hood, TX. He Was serving in the Army at the time of his death.
He is preceded in death by his brother, Jamie Rintala; grandparents, Rose Siefkin and LTC Robert H. McGinnis (USAF Ret) and Laurie K. McGinnis.
He is survived by his parents and mother; two brothers, Mineman 2nd Class USN Rick, Jr. of Corpus Christi, TX and Jason of Leadville; three sisters, Michelle of Westminster, CO, Jeanette Frye of Thorton, CO, and Janie Rintala of Port Wentworth; brother-in-law, Matthew Frye of Westminster, CO; fiancé, Tabatha Ames of Tuscon, AZ; his grandparents, Wilma and Alan Votta of Gulfport, MS and David Siefkin of Dicksen, IL; and aunt, Erin Greene of Port Wentworth; and cousin Nathaniel Greene of Lakewood, CO.
A memorial service was conducted at St. George Episcopal Church, Leadville, CO on Tuesday, October 14th at 5 p.m.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, October 20 in the funeral home chapel with interment immediately following at Hillcrest Abby West Cemetery on Dean Forest Rd., Savannah, GA.
Family, Friends and Soldiers are invited to a reception hosted by Mr. & Mrs. Rick V. Sandberg, Sr. at the Community Center, 100 Lake Shore Blvd, Port Wentworth, GA.
Remembrances: Help Hospitalized Veterans, PO Box 98008, Washington, DC 20090-8088.