February 2017
Services for Rev. Donald Matthiessen, 87, who died Friday, February 3, 2017, will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, February 15 and 16, in Rock Falls, Illinois. He was currently pastor at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Sterling, Illinois.
Pastor Matthiessen was a native of Persia, Iowa. He was a graduate of Persia High School, Dana College, and Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, Illinois. He was ordained as a minister in July of 1975. He faithfully served The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod his entire life as a layman, Bible study leader, and minister, including at churches in Winner, Clearfield, and Hamill, South Dakota; Gresham, Nebraska; and Our Savior in Sterling, Illinois.
He was a farmer around the Shelby, Iowa, area for many years prior to his ordination. He was drafted into the Marine Corps and was honorably discharged in 1952 after the death of his father.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Rosemary, their children George Matthiessen of Osan Air Force Base, Osan, South Korea; Robert Matthiessen of Dixon, Illinois; and Amy (James) Morrison of Tarzana, California; and one granddaughter, Alice Morrison of Tarzana, California. He is preceded in death by his father, mother, sister Maxine, and brother-in-law William Oloff.
There will be a 5-7 p.m. visitation at McDonald Funeral Home, 1002 12th Avenue, Rock Falls, Illinois, on Wednesday, February 15. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 16, at McDonald Funeral Home in Rock Falls with Rev. Mark Hawkinson, family friend, officiating. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, February 17, at Elk Horn Lutheran Church Cemetery, Elk Horn, Iowa.