Fulfilling his final wishes, 5-year-old Garrett Matthias' celebration of life features a Viking funeral, bouncy houses and superheroes

Danielle Gehr | The Des Moines Register

Show Caption Hide Caption 5-year-old Garrett Matthias got the 'fun' funeral he wanted Before Garrett Matthias passed away he told his parents he wanted bounce houses at this funeral. Days after his death, his parents did just that.

Before Garrett Matthias died from cancer at age 5, he had a simple request: At his funeral, he wanted five bouncy houses. Before pulling up to his celebration of life Saturday, people could see that his wish had been fulfilled.

Garrett's parents, Emilie and Ryan, have let him take the reigns — starting with his obituary, which ended with a typical Garrett farewell: "See ya later, suckas!"

In September, Garrett was diagnosed with alveolar fusion negative rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer that attacked his temporal bone, cranial nerve and inner ear. After he died, on July 6, Emilie Matthias said her and her husband decided to take a cue from something Garrett had said after they'd returned from the funerals of the other children in his pediatric cancer ward:

"Why are funerals so sad? I'm going to have bouncy houses at mine."

"I really think it's for all of us — these are Garrett's specific requests," Emilie Matthias said Saturday. "You know, I really don't want to stand in a church or a funeral home for hours on end, shaking people's hands and hugging people and having people say they're sorry. This seems to be a much better way to go. We're here to have a good time and to celebrate his life."

His parents decided to throw a celebration of life they said would have exceeded his expectations. Snow cones, face painting and an appearance by Batman, Wonder Woman and Spider-man were some the Garrett-tailored details.

The atmosphere of the celebration was more akin to a birthday party, with children running around, laughing and playing, while wearing face paint and superhero masks.

Teachers and classmates from Garrett's daycare, A Child's World, attended, wearing Batman shirts they'd made that had a "G" at the center. The daycare had also donated the face paint and the bouncy houses for the event.

His parent's even followed through on his request to recreate a funeral scene from Thor: They hired an archer to shoot a firey arrow at Garrett's ashes, floating on the lake near their home. The moment was one of the few somber parts of the evening.

Garrett's parents described him as a prankster, using whoopie cushions and sneaking clothespins on the hospital staff. Emilie Matthias said he witty and worldly beyond his age.

"He was the sweetest kid — really connected with people on their level, no matter what their age," Emilie Matthias. " I just think he was an all around amazing kid."

His grandfather Fred Krueger recalled playing games with Garrett, and even if, while playing MarioKart, Krueger was in last place and Garrett was in first, Garrett would always say the same thing: "Grandpa, you're doing a very good job."

Even after Garrett's cancer progressed, his grandpa said this gracious nature did not change.

"He was laying there, and he was paralyzed and I was sitting in a crappy, old chair, and he said, 'Grandpa come over here and sit on the recliner. It will be more comfortable for you,'" Krueger said. "Now, a 5-year-old doing that is almost unheard of."

Ryan Matthias, Garrett's dad, said seeing the outpouring of support for his family has made him want to pay it forward.

"I've learned a lot in the past couple months — how people are better than I thought they were. They're more generous, they care, and I think it's changed me as well," Ryan Matthias said. "I have been more apt to volunteer my time — I'll drop everything just to help someone.

"Now, it's always in the back of my mind, saying, 'People have helped Garrett; why can't I help out?'"

The family wrote in the obituary that they plan to hold a private funeral for Garrett once they fulfill his last wish: for his ashes to be turned into a tree, where he will live when he transforms into a gorilla.

When writing Garrett's obituary, Emilie Matthias told the Register that it was important to write about the true nature of pediatric cancer, calling it "an ugly, nasty beast that leaves a path of destruction."

"No child should have to go through cancer — the treatments, the hell that cancer puts Garrett through as well as families and friends," Emilie Matthias said. "So it was really important for us to get the message out there that Garrett died of cancer, and he's 5 years old and that should not happen."

The attention the obituary received came with donations to cancer research and to the Matthias family. Emilie Matthias said one of the non-profits mentioned in the obituary said they'd seen an uptick in donations over the past week.

A Go Fund Me to help with the families medical bills has raised over $60,000.

“If nothing else, if it inspires one person to donate or one person to become a doctor and find a cure for cancer, I think that’s an awesome legacy," Emilie Matthias said.

Read the full obituary here:

Garrett Michael Matthias AKA "The Great Garrett Underpants", of Van Meter, Iowa -

My name is: Garrett Michael Boofias

My birthday is: I am 5 years old

My address is: I am a Bulldog!

My favorite color is: Blue...and red and black and green

My favorite superhero is: Batman…and Thor, Iron Man, the Hulk and Cyborg

When I grow up: I'm going to be a professional boxer

My favorite people are:

Mommy, Daddy, my sister 'Delcina' (Delphina),

The grandparents with the new house (Fredric and Cheryl Krueger),

The grandparents with the camper (Daniel and Nita Matthias),

My cousins Grady, 'that guy I took down that one time' (Luke) and London Marie,

My auntie Janette and stinky Uncle Andy (Andrew and Janette Krueger),

Those two guys, you know, my uncles (Kristopfer Krueger and James Taylor)

Batman!!

The things I love the most: Playing with my sister, my blue bunny, thrash metal, Legos, my daycare friends, Batman and when they put me to sleep before they access my port.

Things I hate: Pants, dirty stupid cancer, when they access my port, needles and the monkey nose that smells like cherry farts. I do like the mint monkey nose at Mayo Radiation, and that one guy that helped me build Legos (Randy).

When I die: I am going to be a gorilla and throw poo at Daddy!

Burned or buried: I want to be burned (like when Thor's mommy died) and made into a tree so I can live in it when I'm a gorilla.

Big or small funeral: Funerals are sad. I want 5 bouncy houses (because I'm 5), Batman and snow cones

Emilie and Ryan Matthias will honor Garrett's final wishes by having a Celebration of Life on Saturday, July 14 from 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. at 2377 132nd Ct. Van Meter, Iowa

Note: Symbolic Asgardian burial ceremony and fireworks will be held just after sunset

A private burial of Garrett's ashes will be held at a later time once his parents figure out how the hell to get his ashes made into a tree and locate a nature preserve, so his tree resides in a protected area.

Donations can be made directly to the family https://www.gofundme.com/garrett-mathiasmathias-family or in Garrett's honor to a few of the many non-profits that helped Garrett along the way: The Little Al Foundation (https://www.littlealfoundation.com), The Pink Tractor Foundation (https://www.facebook.com/PinkTractorFoundation) and the University of Iowa Dance Marathon (https://dancemarathon.uiowa.edu)

We are so grateful to the many doctors, nurses, child life specialists, musicians, art therapists, and volunteers that worked tirelessly to cure Garrett of his cancer. The reality for Garrett and so many other children is pediatric cancer is an ugly, nasty beast that leaves a path of destruction. For Garrett and many others before him - cancer kills. Those that are 'lucky' enough to survive endure long-term debilitating side effects and the constant fear of relapse. We will fight for a cure until no other kids are robbed of their childhood, no other siblings lose their best friends, and no other parents have to bury their babies.

Garrett endured nine months of hell before he lost his battle with cancer. During that time he never lost his sense of humor and loved to tease the doctors and nurses. From whoopie cushions and sneaking clothespins on their clothes to 'hazing' the interns and new staff doctors, he was forever a prankster. Nothing caught people off guard as his response to 'see ya later alligator':

See ya later, suckas! - The Great Garrett Underpants