Matthew Curtis McFarland, 65, of Topeka, Kansas, passed away October 1, 2024. He was born on December 12, 1958, the youngest child of Joe and Roberta McFarland. He went to elementary school in Emporia and Topeka and attended Jardine Jr. High School. He graduated from Washburn Rural High School in 1977. There he served as senior class president, participated in basketball, tennis, and football, and was active in the journalism department. He attended Washburn University his freshman year and then transferred to Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1981 with a degree in Business. He worked at American Home Life Insurance, Security Benefit, and then ran his own business. Matt had a keen interest in sports and played various sports, coached and played softball, and was an avid golfer. He officiated football for over 30 years, working at the high school and semi-pro level including arena football. For many years he was the starter for the Topeka Bed Race during the St. Patrick’s Day Festivities-a job he inherited from his father. He also inherited a great sense of humor from his father and was always ready with a joke. Over the years Matt amassed a multitude of friends from all walks of life whom he cherished greatly. Matt loved his family and is survived by his mother, Roberta McFarland, his brother, Bill McFarland, his sister Kathryn Gardner, and her husband Tim, and three nieces. Matt was a lifelong member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church where he served as a deacon and for a time was the youth sponsor. His trust in Christ shaped his life and he read the scriptures and shared his faith with his family and friends. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at the Sterling Community Cemetery, Sterling, Kansas. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday October 12, 2024, at the Topeka Reformed Presbyterian Church, Topeka, Kansas, with a visitation from 10:00 A.M. until service time, with family present. Memorials may be given to the Topeka Reformed Presbyterian Church or Geneva College in care of Birzer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 262, Sterling, KS 67579.