Mathew J. White, age 73, of Fitchburg, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011, in Honolulu, Hawaii, as a result of an accident. He was born on Jan. 15, 1938, in Madison, the son of Marvin and Marie (Thrum) White. Mathew married Anna Schuette on Oct. 26, 1963 in Cleveland, Wisc.He served in the U.S. Marine Corp Reserves. Mathew started his sheet metal apprenticeship at the age of 17. He worked in the sheet metal trade for 43 years, retiring in 2000. Mathew was a member of Local 18 of the WI Sheet Metal Workers' Union for over 50 years. He was a founding fire fighter of the Fitchburg Fire Department in 1970 and served as the Chief from 1982-1983. Using his sheet metal aptitude, he built several of the fire departments early fire apparatuses. Mathew served as treasurer on the Dane Co. Fire Chiefs and Fire Fighters, member of Wisconsin State Fire Chief and Southern Wisconsin/Northern Illinois Fire Rescue Association. He retired from the fire department in the early 1990s. Mathew enjoyed bowling, camping, fishing, golfing and working in his hobby shop. In his retirement, he enjoyed his daily coffee at Gervasi Marine. Mathew is survived by his wife, Anna of Fitchburg; sons, Dan (Sue) White of Brookyln and Doug White of Waipahu, Hawaii; step-granddaughter, Libbie Reese; brother, Martin (Jolie) White of West Palm Beach, Florida; sister, Marlaine White of Eau Claire; sisters-in-law, Norma (Jim) Kumbalek and Joy (Bill) Krueger; and brothers-in-law, Wayne (Diana) Schuette and Dale Schuette. A celebration of Mat's life will be held at the CITY OF FITCHBURG FIREHOUSE #1, 5791 Lacy Road, Fitchburg, at 11 a.m., on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011. Visitation will be held at the firehouse from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28, 2011 and also from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday. Burial will be held at St. John (Kassa) Cemetery, town of Centerville, in Cleveland, Wisconsin, at 11:30 a.m., on Monday, Oct. 31, 2011. Memorials may be made in Mathew's name to St. Jude's Childrens Hospital or the ESA Foundation Scholarship Fund.Gunderson Fitchburg Funeral & Cremation Care, 2950 Chapel Valley Rd. (608)442-5002 www.gundersonfh.com