MATTER, Roger Roy 1915-1999

STOSKOPF, MATTER, TESLOW, LANSING, LANDSWERK, SORENSON, HARVEY, SENSOR, KEEFE

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 9/17/2010 at 16:13:44

Decorah Public Opinion, Tuesday, June 22, 1999

Roger Roy Matter

Roger Matter, 83, of Decorah, died Tuesday, June 15, 1999, at the Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital.

Funeral services were held Friday, June 18, at 11 a.m., at Decorah Lutheran Church. Officiating were the Revs. Ole Winter, James Glesne, Tim Tostengard, Steve Jacobsen and Owen Gangstead.

Connie Bolson was the organist. Soloist Ellen Rockne sang "In This Very Room," "The Lord Is My Shepherd" and "You Are Mine."

The congregation sang "O Day Full of Grace," 'The Strife is O'er" and "Thine is the Glory."

Casket bearers were his grandchildren, Sarah Matter Arndt, Laura Matter, Andrea Matter, Mindy Matter, Beth Matter, Nathan Matter, Brock Matter, Reed Matter and Samuel Matter.

Interment was at the Locust Cemetery, rural Decorah. The Fjelstul Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Roger Roy Matter was born Nov. 7, 1915, on the family farm north of Decorah, the son of John and Emma (Stoskopf) Matter. He was baptized in January of 1916 and confirmed June 7, 1931, at Decorah Lutheran Church.

He attended the Clay Hill House, a one-room school, through the 8th grade.
Roger worked on the family farm and at the Matter's Chick Hatchery located there. In 1936, he competed a course in Poultry Management at the Salisbury School in Charles City.

After the hatchery was destroyed by fire, his father, John, relocated the business to 406 W. Water St. in Decorah. Roger purchased the business in 1943.

On Feb. 18, 1940, Roger Matter and Arlene Teslow were united in marriage at the Glenwood Lutheran Church. To this union, three sons were born.

He retired in 1979, selling the hatchery to his son Steven. He enjoyed going to the hatchery, where he could visit with his old customers, and usually meet up with his coffee buddies.

Roger had a zeal for life and its simple pleasures. He will be remembered for his enthusiasm, whether taking off a new batch of baby chicks, or reeling in a big catch. He liked to tinker and repair things, and was always willing to lend a helping hand.

His hobbies were fishing, playing cards, photography and listening to music. Roger enjoyed fishing the area trout streams, the Mississippi River, and the many special fishing trips to Canada with friends and especially with his three sons.

Roger was a dedicated member of Decorah Lutheran Church. He ushered and served on various committees through the years. He was chairman of the Lutheran Cemetery Association for several years and represented Decorah Lutheran as a delegate to the Aase Haugen Home. He particularly enjoyed the Men's Fellowship breakfasts and the 50+ meetings.

Survivors include his wife, Arlene of Decorah; three sons, Dr. James and Linda Matter of Fergus Falls, Minn., David Matter of Onalaska, Wis., and Steven and Peg Matter of Decorah; nine grandchildren; one great-grandson, Ben Arndt; five sisters, Florence Lansing of Mason City, Bernice Landswerk of Maple Plains, Minn., and Margaret Sorenson, Alma Harvey and Ethel Sensor, all of Decorah.

Roger Matter was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Hattie Keefe; and three, brothers, Walter, Elmer and Leonard Matter.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.

Locust Cemetery aka Saint John
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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