Matzen, Walter Ivan

MATZEN, LARSEN, SAMUELSON, LEKWA, HAHN

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 6/2/2013 at 01:36:52

Walter Ivan Matzen, 93, died Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010 at his residence in Hot
Springs, Ark. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Feb. 16, at the Church of
Christ, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Scott Marcum officiating. Interment was at
Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City with military honors provided by the Clear
Lake V.F.W.. Memorials will be sent to the New Life Christian Church, Hot
Springs, Ark.

Walter was born Dec. 3, 1916 the son of Andrew and Minnie Matzen at Mason City,
Iowa. Walter received his education in Mason City, then enlisted in the U.S.
Army and served during WWll. After discharge from the army he worked as a meat
cutter at Decker/Armour Meat Packing Facility in Mason City.

He met his future wife, Helen, while she was employed in the cafeteria
department at Deckers. He married Helen Madge Matzen in 1947 at the First
Christian Church in Mason City. Walter worked as a shoe cobbler as a side job
and had a shop in his home in Central Heights of Mason City. They moved to
Clear Lake in 1962, at which time he donated his shoe repair equipment to
“Handicap Village” of Clear Lake. The Clear Lake Church of Christ was a central
part of his family’s life. They attended the church when it was a small building
on the corner of 12th and Main Avenue and helped build a new church building on
the current property that is now the AA office building. After retirement in
1976 they moved to the rural community of Blockton, Iowa. The Blockton Christian
Church and the town were important parts of his life. Walter shared his
gardening, black walnut harvests and carpentry expertise with family and friends
of the community and the church. He opened his home to those who needed a place
to stay. He enjoyed camping, road trips and yearly visits to a religious retreat
at the Kiamichi Mountain Clinic. Walter was always there with a smile and
helping hand whenever anyone needed help.

Walter was a member of the Hot Springs New Life Christian Church, American
Legion and a life-time member of the Moose Lodge.

Walter is survived by four daughters, Sandra Dee Larsen and husband, Stephen,
of Bella Vista, Ark., Christee Kay Samuelson and husband, Dwayne, of Fairfield,
Iowa, Alta Jane Lekwa and husband, Larry, of Hot Springs, Vickie Lou Hahn and
husband, Alfred, of Nevada, Iowa; a son, Mark Lee Matzen of Trenton, N.J.; along
with his immediate family and friends. He will be missed by his many
grandchildren and their families, John and Kristin Larsen, Carey Hungerford,
Theresa Hungerford, Andrew and Julia Lekwa, Kelly Jo and John McNeill, Stephanie
and Alan Lonning, Greg Hahn and Laura Spillane, Monika and Christopher Hinson
and Angela Samuelson; and Cassie Markley, Kelsee and Kylie Meyers (the daughters
of the late Lisa Meyers)

His was preceded in death by his parents; wife; two sisters, Ella Edgington and
Matilda Marvel; four brothers, Paul, Edwin, Lawrence, and Alvin; granddaughter,
Lisa Meyer; and great-grandson, Jeremy Hungerford.