Obituary for Gregory E. Mattson
Age 68 of Maple Grove. Preceded in death by parents, Einar & Dorothy. Survived by loving wife, Linda; children, Josh Mattson & Heather (Robert) O’Connell; grandchildren, Soren & Greta; siblings, Mike Mattson, Mark Mattson & Carol (Steve) Gilbert; brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law, Bruce (Nancy) Winterfeldt, Lauri Winterfeldt (Jim Miller); nieces, nephews, other relatives & friends.
Greg Mattson grew up on Boardman Street in Minneapolis, MN and was a proud Roosevelt Teddy and Gustavus Adolphus graduate. Greg worked in marketing for Honeywell/Alliant TechSystems, in sales for CPU Options and later in life, pursued his dream of starting his own remodel/repair business GEM Homeworks, Inc.
While many men of his generation were defined by their career, Greg’s life was devoted to his family. To Greg, it was never a question that his family was his top priority. His life was defined by being kind to all, helping his parents & siblings in childhood, and his wife, children, and friends in adulthood. He was very dutiful, patient, calm, selfless, unassuming, and always saw the best in others.
He married Linda (Winterfeldt) Mattson in August 1974, and they soon moved to Maple Grove, and resided on Chesshire Ln. for the remainder of his adult life.
Greg began his most cherished work in life in 1978 with the arrival of his son, Josh, and a few years later, his daughter, Heather. He loved playing with them and teaching them sports, coaching OBA basketball teams, and going on family vacations.
He was also actively involved with his extended family, especially on holidays: Christmas Eve with the Matta family, 4th of July with the Mattsons, and Thanksgiving with the Winterfeldts.
He welcomed his grandchildren Soren in 2011 and Greta in 2015 and celebrated the news of the upcoming arrival of his 3rd grandchild in March 2020. Greg loved being a grandparent - he loved to play in the driveway with balls and trikes, read stories, take naps together, and go bowling.
Greg was an active member of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church since 1975, where he continued to learn, grow, and live out in his Christian faith. He served that community in many ways – usher, board member, midweek school administrator and participated in men’s group bible study and developed life-long friendships with his Christ Care group. He loved the Lord and kept his all those in his life in prayer continuously.
Greg was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s in 2015, although he had symptoms much earlier. Upon diagnosis, he requested that the family spend one more vacation together to his bucket list destination: Hawaii. We were able to spend quality time together relaxing by the beach, golfing, and swimming in the pool with Soren.
Over the years that he suffered, we slowly said a million little goodbyes as he progressed through all of the developmental life stages in reverse, which was both painful to watch, but also gave us a glimpse into his earlier life experiences.
His last 2 years were spent in assisted living, and the family extends gratitude to the Willows at Arbor Lakes memory care facility, Brighton Hospice care, Beautiful Savior staff (Kay and Pastor Tom) and Roosevelt friends (Lee, Paul), for taking such good care of Greg ensuring his and our family’s comfort during the end of his journey. It also takes a village to support the caregivers. A huge support network surrounded Linda throughout this journey, including the Christcare group (Paul & Cindy), fun club (Eldean, Kathy, Sue), carblettes (Sandi, Sharon, Chris), bunco babes, diva club, district 279 fellow educators and family (Lindsey, Rob, Lauri & Jim, Annie & Paul, Nancy & Bruce, Jodi & Jim). God provided countless others who lifted our family throughout this journey, for which we are grateful.
Alzheimer’s is truly an insidious disease that robbed this man with a golden heart of his golden years. Instead of remembering Greg by how his life was taken, we celebrate the many years that we had with his kind, humble, servant heart and hands.
Memorial service at BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR LUTHERAN CHURCH (5005 Northwest Blvd., Plymouth) on Saturday, October 19th at 11 AM with visitation one hour prior.
Memorials preferred to:
• Lutheran Social Services to support adoption services at https://www.lssmn.org/get-involved/donate/memorials-and-tributes
OR
• Robert L. Kane Endowed Chair in Long-Term Care and Aging at the University of Minnesota. The Long-Term Care Chair is seeking the best ways to support families through research, education, and outreach in Minnesota and beyond. To make a tax-deductible donation in memory of Mr. Mattson on-line, please go to: http://bit.ly/33oltrl. To do so via check, please make the check out to: "RLK Chair, University of Minnesota Foundation" and on the notation line please include "In memory of Greg Mattson" and mail to the following address: Joe Gaugler, PhD, University of Minnesota, D351 Mayo (MMC 729), 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455.
Greg Mattson grew up on Boardman Street in Minneapolis, MN and was a proud Roosevelt Teddy and Gustavus Adolphus graduate. Greg worked in marketing for Honeywell/Alliant TechSystems, in sales for CPU Options and later in life, pursued his dream of starting his own remodel/repair business GEM Homeworks, Inc.
While many men of his generation were defined by their career, Greg’s life was devoted to his family. To Greg, it was never a question that his family was his top priority. His life was defined by being kind to all, helping his parents & siblings in childhood, and his wife, children, and friends in adulthood. He was very dutiful, patient, calm, selfless, unassuming, and always saw the best in others.
He married Linda (Winterfeldt) Mattson in August 1974, and they soon moved to Maple Grove, and resided on Chesshire Ln. for the remainder of his adult life.
Greg began his most cherished work in life in 1978 with the arrival of his son, Josh, and a few years later, his daughter, Heather. He loved playing with them and teaching them sports, coaching OBA basketball teams, and going on family vacations.
He was also actively involved with his extended family, especially on holidays: Christmas Eve with the Matta family, 4th of July with the Mattsons, and Thanksgiving with the Winterfeldts.
He welcomed his grandchildren Soren in 2011 and Greta in 2015 and celebrated the news of the upcoming arrival of his 3rd grandchild in March 2020. Greg loved being a grandparent - he loved to play in the driveway with balls and trikes, read stories, take naps together, and go bowling.
Greg was an active member of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church since 1975, where he continued to learn, grow, and live out in his Christian faith. He served that community in many ways – usher, board member, midweek school administrator and participated in men’s group bible study and developed life-long friendships with his Christ Care group. He loved the Lord and kept his all those in his life in prayer continuously.
Greg was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s in 2015, although he had symptoms much earlier. Upon diagnosis, he requested that the family spend one more vacation together to his bucket list destination: Hawaii. We were able to spend quality time together relaxing by the beach, golfing, and swimming in the pool with Soren.
Over the years that he suffered, we slowly said a million little goodbyes as he progressed through all of the developmental life stages in reverse, which was both painful to watch, but also gave us a glimpse into his earlier life experiences.
His last 2 years were spent in assisted living, and the family extends gratitude to the Willows at Arbor Lakes memory care facility, Brighton Hospice care, Beautiful Savior staff (Kay and Pastor Tom) and Roosevelt friends (Lee, Paul), for taking such good care of Greg ensuring his and our family’s comfort during the end of his journey. It also takes a village to support the caregivers. A huge support network surrounded Linda throughout this journey, including the Christcare group (Paul & Cindy), fun club (Eldean, Kathy, Sue), carblettes (Sandi, Sharon, Chris), bunco babes, diva club, district 279 fellow educators and family (Lindsey, Rob, Lauri & Jim, Annie & Paul, Nancy & Bruce, Jodi & Jim). God provided countless others who lifted our family throughout this journey, for which we are grateful.
Alzheimer’s is truly an insidious disease that robbed this man with a golden heart of his golden years. Instead of remembering Greg by how his life was taken, we celebrate the many years that we had with his kind, humble, servant heart and hands.
Memorial service at BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR LUTHERAN CHURCH (5005 Northwest Blvd., Plymouth) on Saturday, October 19th at 11 AM with visitation one hour prior.
Memorials preferred to:
• Lutheran Social Services to support adoption services at https://www.lssmn.org/get-involved/donate/memorials-and-tributes
OR
• Robert L. Kane Endowed Chair in Long-Term Care and Aging at the University of Minnesota. The Long-Term Care Chair is seeking the best ways to support families through research, education, and outreach in Minnesota and beyond. To make a tax-deductible donation in memory of Mr. Mattson on-line, please go to: http://bit.ly/33oltrl. To do so via check, please make the check out to: "RLK Chair, University of Minnesota Foundation" and on the notation line please include "In memory of Greg Mattson" and mail to the following address: Joe Gaugler, PhD, University of Minnesota, D351 Mayo (MMC 729), 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455.