Jan Materka is a member of the Jesuit Dallas Class of 1972. Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.
JAN WILLIAM MATERKA '72 On Friday, December 18, 2020, Jan William Materka, loving and devoted husband and father of two children, Laurel and Will, and stepfather of Heather, slipped into peaceful eternity at the age of 66 with family by his side. Jan was born in Dallas, Texas on December 21, 1953 to Doris and William Materka. He was a 1972 graduate of Jesuit College Preparatory School and attended Southern Methodist University, his parents' alma mater, where he earned his BBA in Marketing and served as Social Chair for the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity for two years. While at Jesuit, he refined his gift of running and became a track star, holding state records his junior and senior years. This achievement earned him a place in the Jesuit Sports Hall of Fame, an honor for which he was immensely proud. Jan continued his dedication to track after graduation by spending over 20 years working the finish lines at the Jesuit Sheaner Relays. Jan followed his father's footsteps and pursued a career in the corrugated products industry. As his career advanced, he focused primarily on graphic design and displays for retail. He eventually fulfilled a long-time dream of his by purchasing a corrugated manufacturing company. In September of 1990, Jan married Holly Hillberg-House Webb, the love of his life, and became a proud stepfather to Heather. Jan and Holly had two children together, Laurel and Will. As a hands-on father, he shared his passion for sports by coaching volleyball for their daughter and assisting with their son's lacrosse team – all the while never missing a game for either of them. Jan truly was a family man who cherished his time with them. Anyone who met Jan knew him for his gregarious laugh, his love of The Beatles, his kind-hearted nature, and being the life of the party. Jan was an eternal optimist who never had a rainy day - some of his favorite mantras were "if is half of life" and "it is what it is". In his free time, Jan worked on his golf game and loved to watch the Cowboys play (while coaching quite loudly from the living room). He began cycling later in life and after countless 60-mile rallies, he achieved his goal of completing the Hotter'N Hell Hundred, not once or twice but three times. Jan was preceded in death by his father, William Materka; his stepmother, Barbara Materka; and his mother, Doris Senseney Materka Brinlee. He is survived by his wife, Holly Materka; step-daughter, Heather Webb; daughter and son-in-law, Laurel and Shiv Patel; son, William "Will" Materka; sister and brother-in-law, Lynn and David Harnden; loving nieces and nephews; and three beautiful grandchildren. A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date. If desired, donations may be made to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD), a disease which ultimately claimed his life. Jan was loved by so many and will be missed dearly. Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas |