Christian Mattern

Funeral mass will be held Monday, June 15, 2009 at 11 a.m. at Little Flower Catholic Church for Christian Mattern, 85, Rugby, who died Tuesday, June 9 at the Heart of America Medical Center.

Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Chris was born May 21, 1924 in Rugby, the son of Jacob and Katherine (Meyer) Mattern. He married Josephine Senger on Feb. 5, 1945 in Karlsruhe. Following his marriage, he owned and operated a farm outside of Deering until 1966. With the sale of the farm, he moved with his family to Renton, Wash., where he purchased and operated a tavern, followed by a career in real estate, and then a move to PacCar (Kenworth Trucks). With retirement in 1988, Chris and his wife moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, for a few years. They moved to Rugby in 1994.

He was a member of Little Flower Catholic Church.

He is survived by his wife; children, Gary Mattern, Rocklin, Calif.; Marlene Porter, Harrison, Idaho; James Mattern, Coos Bay, Ore.; Patricia Steen, Cheney, Wash.; Dean Mattern, Auburn, Wash.; Cheryl Lackey, Post Falls, Idaho; Joe Mattern, Roundup, Mont.; Jack Mattern, San Antonio, Texas; Sheila Landwehr, Edmonds, Wash.; and Kimberly Bellou, Spokane, Wash.; 19 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Helen Ell, of Vacaville, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Leo and Adam Mattern; and a sister, Marie Amon.

Fr. Tom Graner will be the celebrant. Galen Mack will be soloist and Glenda Mack will be the organist.

Casketbearers will be Dean Mattern, Gary Mattern, Jack Mattern, James Mattern, Joe Mattern and Douglas Mattern. Honorary bearers are Stanley Amon, John Kuntz, Earl Hetland and Edward Salwey.

Visitation will be held at the Niewoehner Funeral Home in Rugby on Sunday, June 14 from 3-9 p.m. and on Monday, June 15 from 8 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Rosary service will be Sunday at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. There will be no reviewal at the church.

Arrangements by Niewoehner Funeral Home, Rugby.