PASSING OF AN ELK: John Louise Dematte

John Louis “Jack” Dematte, 84, of Wheeling, WV, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at Liza’s Place.
Jack was born in Wheeling on June 11, 1938, to Louis and Selma (Rentschler) Dematte. He grew up in North Wheeling and graduated from Wheeling Central Catholic High School. He attended Wheeling College, where he was a starter on the 1956 Pioneer Basketball Team. Upon graduation, Jack married his high school sweetheart, Delores “Dee” Ruggaber. He enlisted in the US Army, and relocated to Fort Knox, Kentucky where he and Dee started their family. They returned to Wheeling where Jack worked for Olin Corporation and Blaw-Knox Company before his employment with Charles M. Sledd Company, where he retired.

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​Jack never met a stranger and went out of his way to find a connection to those he met through a common person or place. He loved Wheeling, its people, and its rich history, and often shared stories of his fondest memories with others. Jack cherished his family and many friends. He and Dee’s home was a warm and welcoming gathering place for friends, family, and loved ones to celebrate countless holidays and special occasions. Jack also enjoyed vacations at the beach in North Carolina, fishing in Canada, and being a lifelong member of the WV Snake Club. He was an avid Notre Dame fan and he and Dee enjoyed traveling to South Bend for football games. Jack was a member of the Wheeling Elks Lodge and Wheeling Eagles.
He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Delores “Dee” (Ruggaber) Dematte; three children, John “Buddy” Louis Dematte, Jr. of Nashville, TN; Darlene Dematte Reiter of Nashville, TN; and Cecilia “CeCe” (Steve) Brehl of Carmel, IN; six grandchildren, Jack, Alex, CeCe, Lexi, Evan and Luke; his sister, Darlene “Cookie” (Bruce) Argall of Greensburg, PA; and three nephews, Douglas, Joel, and Christopher.
Jack attended Sacred Heart Church before he and Dee moved to St. Michael’s Church while raising their children. They eventually found their way back to the Cathedral of St. Joseph where they were married.
Family and friends will be received on Sunday, May 21st from 4-8 pm at Altmeyer Funeral Homes, 1400 Eoff Street with a starting at 7:30 pm. Mass of Christian burial will be held Monday, May 22, at 10 am at the Cathedral of St. Joseph. Interment will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.
The family would like to thank Jeanne and Ken Weisenborn and family for their tireless support over countless years as well as Jeff Andreas for his many selfless acts of kindness. The family would also like to thank the staff at Liza’s Place for making the final journey home a peaceful one. In addition, they would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at Wheeling Continuous Care Center.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Liza’s Place or to the charity of your choice.