Obit: Matthews, Loretta N. (1920 - 2009)
Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org.

Surnames: Matthews, Tullberg, Hauer, Lutz, Ives, Finkey, Burns

----Source: Marshfield News Herald, Marshfield, Wood Co., WI, Tues., 13 Jan. 2009

Matthews, Loretta N. (31 Dec. 1920 - 11 Jan. 2009)

Loretta N. Matthews, 88, of 2521 10th St. South, Wisconsin Rapids, died Jan. 11, 2009, in the Palliative Care Unit at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wed. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids. The Rev. Paul Tullberg will officiate. Entombment will be in Forest Hill Mausoleum.

Friends may call at Taylor, Vollert and Jennings Funeral Home, 2201 Chestnut St., Wisconsin Rapids, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tues. and at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church from 1 p.m. until the time of services Wed.. In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and School or to the Palliative Care Unit at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield.

Loretta was born Dec. 31, 1920, in Mauston to the Rev. William and Irma (Hauer) Lutz. She moved with her parents to Escanaba, Mich., where her father was called as a pastor. She attended junior and senior high school there and then attended Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minn., to train for teaching in a Lutheran school.

In 1942, Loretta received a call to teach grades third through eighth at St. Paul's Lutheran School in Wisconsin Rapids. She married Donald J. Matthews Aug. 1, 1945, in Escanaba and moved with him to Port Townsend, Wash., until he was discharged from service. They returned to Wisconsin Rapids. After the children were in school, Loretta returned to teaching at St. Paul's Lutheran School in 1963. She taught kindergarten and second and third grades and retired in 1978. Donald died Nov. 12, 1997.

Loretta was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and a former member of St. Paul's Evangelical. Lutheran Church. While at St. Paul's, she was a member of the Willing Workers and the St. Paul's PTC. She also served as a part-time organist for the church and was a member of the church choir. Loretta made crafts and volunteered time at The Craft Shoppe and was a member of the Any Day Club.

Survivors include three sons, David (Cheryl) Matthews of Carlisle, Penn., Jonathan (Linda) Matthews of New Fairfield, Conn., and Thomas (Julie) Matthews of Marshfield; one daughter, Deborah (Lynn) Ives of Wisconsin Rapids; nine grandchildren, Jonathan (Shari) Matthews, Jr., Mark (Heather) Matthews, Paul (Monique) Matthews, Kelly (Ryan) Finkey, Shawn Matthews, Tanya (Andy) Burns, Austin Matthews, and Matthew and Philip Ives; and five great-grandchildren, Logan and Hunter Finkey and Jonathan III, Morgan, and Luke Matthews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Don, two sisters, Helen and Trude and one brother, Martin.

... Jesus asked, "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Matthew 16:15-16

This is faith our mother lived and professed during her life on earth.