SIDNEY - "He was an awesome doctor and person, had a bedside manner all doctors should have followed," Corinne McGee said. "He helped us more than a few times. He will be greatly missed."

"A wonderful doctor and a truly good man," Charlene Hudspeth said. "Dr. Jansen will be missed."

"So sad," Clem Schumacher said. "He was a great man and surgeon with a wonderful sense of humor."

Members of the Sidney community mourned the loss of a general surgeon at Sidney Regional Medical Center this week.

Pat Herz called the news, "a great loss to our community." 

Diana Strausser says, "He was a very kind, caring man, and a good surgeon. He always had a smile on his face and always said 'hi' to you in passing."

Dr. Jansen moved to Sidney with his wife Kaitlin, in 2015. According to his family, he developed a desire to move to a small town that needed a surgeon, where his skills could be used to save lives. He was integral part of the SRMC family for more than 10 years, according to CEO Jason Petik.

"Dr. Jansen was pivotal at helping SRMC to become a leader of healthcare services for our region," Petik said. "Although we are deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. Jansen, we know he expects his people-centered approach to continue through each of us as an organization. Our thoughts and prayers for peace are with the Jansen family. They will always be an extension of the SRMC family." 

Jansen earned his doctorate from Pennsylvania State College of Medicine in 2010 and completed his surgical residency training at St. Luke's Hospital in Pennsylvania. 

Nebraska quickly became home. Matthew and Kaitlin started a small farm and a family, including four daughters, Lilly, Eva, Eleanor, and Adaline. His family says he cherished his wife and girls, his small farm, and the “farm” life in Sidney.

Outside the hospital, Dr. Jansen constantly worked on outdoor projects with Kaitlin and the girls. He planted fruit trees and grew all kinds of vegetables, fish, horses, cows, pigs, and even bananas. On free weekends, you would find him and his girls camping.

Dr. Jansen leaves behind his wife and four daughters; his sister Jessica; and parents, Martha and David Jansen.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Sidney Evangelical Free Church in Sidney. There will be no visitation.