Algis Matulis, 76, passed away peacefully on September 3, 2026, after a lengthy illness. He was born on April 20, 1950, in Nottingham, England, to Stasys and Sofija Matulis, both of Lithuanian descent.
In 1960, he immigrated with his family to the United States and ultimately settled in the Chicagoland area.
Al was a degreed educator but opted for a career in quality control within the food industry before retiring at age 65. He was a lifelong student of history and geography.
A man of deep conviction, Al was committed to his faith in Jesus Christ. After a near-fatal bout with cancer in his late 20s, he became a devoted believer. He belonged to several area Christian churches but most recently was a member of Anchor Church Palos.
Al was a lover of all living things with a special affection for his pet parakeets. For nearly 60 years, he pursued license plates from all corners of the world, amassing a collection of 35,555 plates at the time of his death, which he proudly displayed throughout his residence. A fixture and legend within the license plate collector community, Al was a member of both the Automobile License Plate Collector Association (ALPCA) and the Mid-America Plate Association (MAPA).
He is preceded in death by his parents and his twin brother, Vincas.
He is survived by his sister-in-law, Lynn; his church community; many lifelong friends; and hundreds of license plate collectors who considered Al part of their family.
Visitation and Funeral Service: Thursday, September 10, 2026, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Ashburn Baptist Church, 3647 W. 83rd Street, Chicago, Illinois 60652.
Interment: St. Casimir Lithuanian Cemetery.