Matthew L. Veneroso Sr., 56

Matthew L. Veneroso Sr., 56, unexpectedly passed away Feb. 20, 2016, at his home. He was born and raised in Orange County, Calif., by his loving parents Mary and Mario Veneroso.

As a child he was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America, earning top scout awards and even starting his own troop. He was very involved within his church youth group and it was there he met the love of his life, Elizabeth Rodriguez. She was a sophomore at Marina High School in Huntington Beach and he a senior at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif. Following graduation, he attended Goldenwest College. He married his best friend and love, had four children Mindy, Matthew, Melissa and Michael and moved to Moreno Valley, Calif.

He loved sports so it was natural that he would coach his own children in soccer, baseball and football and leading his teams to championships often. He was a Boy Scout leader who enjoyed teaching the boys outdoor skills that included camping, hiking, canoeing, swimming, boating and riffle shooting. In appreciation for his devoted and untiring work he was presented the Cub Scouter of the Year award in 1992 and later the Boy Scout Silver Beaver Award.

For the city of Moreno Valley, he served on the city council as an Emergency Preparedness and First Responder. He even was a member of his children’s school PTA. He worked as a pipefitter for the department of the Navy, and when the base location closed, the family relocated to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. There he started Matson’s Plumbing as a plumbing contractor and worked the business for 18 years. He loved his church and served in many capacities including Young Men’s President, Boy Scout leader, Elders Quorum President, Ward Clerk, High Priest Group leader, and Councilor to three different Bishops, Bishop Mark Smidt, Bishop Ron Lowe and Bishop Jason Green.

On his free time, he loved boating in the summer and skiing in the winter with his family. Education was very important to him, so he never stopped educating himself as he earned his Associate of Arts degree, his bachelor’s degree and his master’s degree in Business Administration.

He was a member of the Eagles Lodge in Coeur d’Alene, and working on becoming a Mason in Coeur d’Alene. He was a great and wonderful loving husband, father and grandfather. He will be dearly missed by all. As they say in Latin, “Nos tibi semper” (we will always remember you).

He is survived by his spouse of 35 years, Elizabeth Veneroso; daughter Mindy Veneroso Myhre and her husband Karl Myhre; son Matthew Veneroso II; daughter Melissa Veneroso; son Michael Veneroso; grandsons Dominic Veneroso and Tallon Veneroso; and granddaughters Isabella Myhre and of course Amber Covert, all of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He is also survived by his sister, Michele Cooke, spouse Mike Cooke of Salt Lake City, Utah; brothers Marc Veneroso, significant other Julee McTaggert of Vancouver, Wash., Mario Veneroso, spouse Virginia Veneroso of Semi Valley, Calif., and Martin Veneroso of Salt Lake City; sisters-in-law Josie Montenegro of Anaheim, Calif., Frances Maas, spouse Jeff Maas of Mosquit, Texas, Yvonne Molina of Coeur d’Alene, and Flo and Seyed Amir of Riverside, Calif.; brother-in-law Manny Rodriguez of San Antonio, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1824 E. 16th St., Post Falls. Viewing will precede the service from noon to 12:45 p.m. Please share your thoughts and memories of Matthew in his online memorial at www.belltowerfuneralhome.com.