Lillian Irene (Harmon) Matern

     Lillian Irene Matern was born in Algona, Iowa on March 17, 1931, the daughter of Guy C. and Minnie Elizabeth (Swanson) Harmon.  She grew up with four brothers and sisters around the area of her birth and graduated from Algona High School in 1947.  Lillian graduated from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, and briefly taught school in Havelock, IA.

          On September 2, 1950, Lillian was united in marriage with Hugh Matern at St Cecelia’s Church in Algona.

     They raised their children in several northern Iowa and southern Minnesota towns while Hugh worked as a carpenter in the construction trades and Lillian primarily a homemaker. In 1972, they moved to Eagle Grove.  Lillian operated the offset printer at the Eagle Grove High School for 17 years, retiring in 1993. 

     Lillian loved her family - she was an immensely proud mother, who always enjoyed hearing her family laugh and whose hobby it was to worry about each and every one of them! She also enjoyed reading, computer games, jigsaw puzzles and crossword puzzles.

     Living the Catholic faith was very important to Lillian, and she was an active member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Altar Society there.

     Lillian passed away at the Humboldt County Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, at the age of 89 years, with her family surrounding her. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Peter Matern; husband, Hugh on March 11, 2009; two sisters, Mildred McVay and Lucille Bierle; two brothers, Edward and Richard Harmon and son-in-law, Dan Ellis.

     Survivors include children: Christine Ellis of Eyota, MN, Mark (Martha) Matern of Blaine, MN, Elizabeth (Tom) Jasper of Humboldt, Catherine (Michael) McGuire of Davenport, Rosemary Baker of Humboldt, Rebecca (Doug) Varley of Dubuque, Matthew Matern of Eagle Grove, David (Mun) Matern of Bettendorf, as well as 21 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

      A Funeral Mass will be said Saturday, December 19, 2020, at 10:30am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Eagle Grove with Father Jerry Blake celebrating. Visitation will be from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. with a Rosary at 9:00 a.m. in the Parish Center of the church.  Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Eagle Grove.

Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.    

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