Gene R. Matterer died on Jan. 16, 2023 of cancer, according to his family. He was 82 years old.
Matterer was born on Feb. 17, 1940. Following his school days in Crystal Lake, Illinois, he enlisted in the army for 3 years. Later, he attended art school in Chicago and New York City. He came out through the support of the Mattachine Midwest groups.
In retirement, Matterer lived in New Mexico for 19 years and joined the Prime Timers there, before moving to Peoria, Illinois to be near family. He resided in an assisted living facility.