Maurice Theodore Matzen, the son of Christian Theodore and Laura Marie Louise (Carstensen) Matzen was born on May 4, 1909 at Leigh, Nebraska. When Maurice was six years old his family moved to the St. Edward area. He attended elementary school at a country school and graduated from St. Edward High School in 1927.
Maurice worked on the family farm. On December 14, 1932 Maurice was united in marriage to Freda Docina Andreasen at her parent’s home. The couple lived and farmed east of St. Edward. In March of 1945 Maurice left his farm and moved his family to Iowa seeking better farm opportunities. Two years later Freda wanted to move back to St. Edward to be closer to family. Maurice and Freda retired in 1974 continuing to live on their farm place. Freda passed away in 1992. Maurice remained on the farm until 1995 when he purchased a house in St. Edward. He was very active in his church, community and the Beaver Valley Senior Center until March of 2004 when he entered Cloverlodge Care Center in St. Edward. It was there that he passed away on Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 98 years of age.
He was a member and elder of the United Methodist-Presbyterian Church in St. Edward, he also served as a deacon and served various offices on the church board. Maurice was also on the Board of Directors at the Farmers Cooperative in St. Edward, and served as treasurer of the Woodville Township in Platte County. Maurice enjoyed visiting with family and friends, playing pitch and sequence, and bowling.
Maurice is survived by 4 children: L. Maureen Gross and husband Dr. Gene of Grand Coulee, WA; Lois Hahne and husband Jim of Hastings, NE; Jan Cruise and husband Ron of St. Edward, and M. Keith Matzen and wife Terri McCarty of Albuquerque, NM; 12 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren; 2 sister-in-law Frances Matzen of St. Edward and Audrey Matzen of Seattle WA; along with many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; infant son Larry; 3 brothers: Gordon, Kenneth, Stanley, 2 brothers in infancy; and 1 step-sister Charlotte Carstenson.
Funeral Services will be at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, January 21, 2008 at the United Methodist-Presbyterian Church in St. Edward with Rev. Glen Holtz officiating. Burial will be at the Evergreen Cemetery in St. Edward. Visitation will be on Sunday from 3-5 p.m. at the United Methodist-Presbyterian Church in St. Edward.
