Matthew Learn, 28, Utrecht, Netherlands

Published 9:27 am Thursday, February 14, 2013

Matthew Donald Learn, 28, of Utrecht, Netherlands, formerly of Myrtle, died Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, at the University Medical Center in Utrecht.

Matthew was born in Austin on Aug. 21, 1984, to Leo and Julie (Fett) Learn. He was baptized at First Lutheran Church in Glenville and was confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. He graduated from Glenville-Emmons High School in 2002. He attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and graduated from Mankato State University with a degree in business.

Matthew Learn

While studying abroad in France, he met the love of his life, Desi Staykova, of Sofia, Bulgaria. On July 25, 2010, Matthew married Desi at the St. Sofia Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Sofia. In the fall of 2010, Matthew received his master’s degree in business from Erasmus University in Rotterdam. After graduating, Matthew and Desi moved to Utrecht in the Netherlands.

Matt was preceded in death by grandparents, James Fett and Donald and Phyllis Learn; great-grandmother, Marjorie Schauer and cousins Jeremey Learn and Nicole Fett.

He is survived by his wife, Desislava Staykova-Learn, of Utrecht, Netherlands; parents, Leo and Julie Learn, of Lyle; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Walter Staykov and Kamelia Terzieva, of Sofia; siblings, April and Eric Kline, of Austin, Arianne and Shane Gustitus, of Nicollet, Brandon and Felicia Learn, of Lyle; nieces and nephews, Raistlyn and Elijah Kline, Jaxon Learn and Tenley Gustitus; grandparents, Shirley and Vince Adams, of Glenville; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Clasen-Jordan Mortuary with the Rev. Kristi Koppel officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary and one hour before the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society or to the family so a scholarship can be set up in Matthew’s name.