Eldon K. Mattson

CRYSTAL FALLS, Mich. - Eldon K. Mattson, 86, of Ironwood Township, died on Sunday, March 13, 2016, in Crystal Falls.

Eldon was born on Dec. 3, 1929, in Winton, Minn., son of Yalmer and Hilma (Rokola) Mattson. He attended schools in Winton and Ely, Minn., Roosevelt School in Ironwood Township, Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood and Gogebic Community College. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Ironwood.

In 1946, he enlisted in the U.S. Army with basic training at Fort Lewis, Wash. He also trained for jump school with the 82nd Airborne at Fort Benning, Ga. He served in Guadalcanal, Hawaii, Japan, Panama and in Korea for 13 months, where he was wounded and received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and the Combat Infantry Badge. His years of service totaled 14 years, seven months and four days.

Returning home, he worked at the Penokee Mine, a moving company in Detroit, North Star Steel in St. Paul, Minn., and the White Pine Copper Company. Eldon was a charter member of the Ironwood Township Volunteer Fire Department and was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans.

In 1981, he married Gayl Waterman in Ironwood. Eldon and Gayl were foster parents for many years, and they adopted Zachary, a special boy.

Eldon was a volunteer driver for Gogebic County Human Services. Other activities were trapping, hunting, fishing, cribbage and bowling. He continued to bowl even after becoming legally blind. Gardening and sharing his flowers, especially daffodils and dahlias, with so many others was the highlight of his summers. He was an avid Green Bay Packers fan, even attending games at Lambeau Field. Detroit Tigers baseball was his choice, also.

Surviving are six children, Zachary Mattson, Kingsford; Richard (Holly) Mattson, Ironwood; Randy (Tammy) Mattson, Republic; Russell (Nancy) Mattson, Ironwood; Tina (Mark) Oman, Wisconsin, and Deborah Fozzino, Port Washington, Wis .; two stepchildren, Jody (Laura) Krone, Ironwood, and Diane Jensen, Clarksville, Tenn .; his brother, Douglas Mattson, Ironwood; his sister, Delores Raisanen, Ironwood; 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren, and numerous stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren.

Besides his parents and his wife, he was predeceased by his brother-in-law, Robert Raisanen; a stepson, John Krone; stepbrothers-in-law, Clayton Waterman and Ralph Waterman; and sisters-in-law, Sharon Sobolewski, Yvonne Thiede, Annice LaVigne, Elaine Shauger and Aileen "Sandy" Kennedy.

According to his wishes, cremation has taken place. A private memorial service will be at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ironwood on Saturday, April 23, at 11 a.m. Committal will be at Sunset Acres in Ironwood Township.

In lieu of fowers, memorials can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, 5104 E. Margaret St., Ironwood, MI 49938.

Jacobs Funeral Home of Crystal Falls assisted the family.