Obituary of Willis John Matthiesen

Willis John Matthiesen��(known to many as Willie or Matt), age 90 , went to be with the Lord on July 4, 2014, surrounded by his family at home. Willis was the beloved husband and best friend of Mardale (nee Lear) for 62 years; the Dear Father of Brad �(Cindy) of Menomonee Falls, Gary (Jennifer) of Stoughton and Tanace (Gary Becker) of Madison; and the loving grandfather of Kelly, Lauren, �Caitlin, Carly, Hannah, Haley, Katrina, Will, Naomi, Chani and Maddie. Willis is survived by Sisters- in-Law Doris Jean, Doris and Lois Matthiesen of Milwaukee and Nona Buettner of Kentucky. He is further survived by several nieces and nephews, �other relatives and many many friends. Preceding him in death were his parents Edith and Henry Matthiesen; brothers Woodrow, Russell, Elmo, Leon, Donald, Marvin and Richard; �sisters Marie Engel and Lorna Cross; and his grandson Jonathan Matthiesen Becker. Willis was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on April 12th, 1924. �He moved to Milwaukee and joined the Army in 1946. He became a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne. �He married Mardale Lear in Oconto, Wisconsin, on September 29th, 1951. He worked for the Rexnord company in Milwaukee for 35 years. At the same time he worked part-time for Shusters, (then Gimbels) in Milwaukee, selling shoes. After retiring, he worked part-time for Kohl's distribution center in Menomonee Falls for 10 years. Willis and Mardale moved to Fort Atkinson in 1995, where he worked for another�15 years, �taking care of his customers at Shopko. Willis is a past State Department Commander of AMVETS. As a life member, he held many offices at the local, district and state levels. �He is a member of AMVETS post #37 in West Allis, the Rexnord Retirees Club, and �the American Legion Post #375 in Mukwonago. He had the privilege of being on an Honor Flight for WWII veterans to Washington, �D.C.�He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Willis lived life to the fullest. He always enjoyed socializing and having a good time. He enjoyed being Santa Claus at Community Memorial Hospital in Menomonee Falls for 19 years. When he became ill with cancer in 2005, he missed his co-workers and customers�at Shopko. �He couldn't wait to get back to work.�He enjoyed bowling, golfing, traveling and touring, playing cards, and dancing. He enjoyed many trips with his sons, especially to the many ballparks around the U.S. Most of all he enjoyed laughing and being with his children and grandchildren. His sunny and happy disposition was always a delight to everyone who knew him. He never let any problems affect his positive and humorous attitude. You were �a wonderful husband and best friend, father, grandfather and father-in-law.You left this world with dignity. You took God's hand and followed him. You are in heaven now, where God and the angels will welcome you and give you a new life. We are sure you will have them smiling with your quick wit and jokes. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, �July 9, at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 314 Barrie St. in Fort Atkinson, with the Reverends Bryan Engfer and Bill Beyer officiating. �Visitation will be Tuesday, July 8th, from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Nitardy Funeral Home and on Wednesday, July 9th at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran. �Nitardy Funeral Home in Fort Atkinson is assisting the family. Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, the American Cancer Society or the National Kidney Foundation. Special thanks to Doctors Sanyal and Elangovan; the staff at Alden Estates, Rainbow Hospice and Purity Dialysis; �Pastors Brian and Bill Beyer; and special friends Pam and Terry Badura.