Gary "Bob" Mattson

Munising

Gary Robert “Bob” Mattson, age 78, of Munising, died Friday, October 12, 2018 at his home under the loving care of his family and North Woods Home Hospice. He was born on August 14, 1940 to the late Edward and Florence (Twork) Mattson.  Bob grew up in a close-knit family as one of seven children.  He graduated from William G. Mather High School in 1959.  Bob married Helen Karr on April 4, 1959 and together they raised their three children.  He worked for Kimberly Clark and retired from the powerhouse in 1997 after thirty-eight years of service.  In retirement, Bob enjoyed working as a deckhand for Pictured Rocks Cruises.  He loved hunting, fishing, and country music.  Bob and Helen would spend two weeks in the woods every fall for archery and rifle season trying to find a big buck.  Bob was able to bag a Boone and Crocket buck, that he was very proud of.  He also enjoyed his many fishing trips to Canada and teaching his grandkids how to enjoy our great outdoors.  Bob and Helen looked forward to their trips to the Porterfield Country Music Festival and to Branson for their love of music.  Bob also loved when his grandchildren would share their musical talents and play their instruments for him even though he could only “play the radio”.  The Mattson family get togethers over the Fourth of July were always important.  Starting the day with the Freedom Run/Walk, where even last year when Bob was not physically able to walk his family pushed him in a wheelchair.  Bob was a kind man who would step up and help anyone in any way that he could.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years – Helen Mattson of Munising; children – Robin Mattson of Munising, Gary Mattson of Marquette, and Elaine (Harry) Robbins of Munising; grandchildren – Melissa (T.J.) Osborn, Leia Luepnitz, Cameron and Calvin Mattson, and Zachary, Alec and Paul LeVeque; step-grandchildren – Lindsey (Andrew Mulye) Robbins and Jill (Brett) Bednarski; great-grandchildren – Jesse, Jeremy, Nathanael “Nate”, Addison, Emerson, Hunter, and Harper; siblings - Ed (Jean) Mattson, Chuck (Erica) Mattson, Dorene (John) Sidbeck, and Alice (Bud) Dover; brothers and sisters-in-law – Dianne Mattson, Lee Schultz, Hilda Graves, Richard (Gerry) Karr, and Clara (Roger) Sommers; and numerous nieces and nephews.  Bob was preceded in death by his parents – Ed and Florence; brothers – Jim and John Mattson; son-in-law – Warren Kemp; mother and father-in-law – Eva and Howard Karr; brothers-in-law – Merle (Dorothy) Karr, Bill Lindeblad, and Bob Graves.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Eden Lutheran Church in Munising.   Bob’s funeral will be conducted by Pastor Ann Gonyea at Eden at 1:00 p.m.