Obituary of Carl Albin Mattson

Carl Albin Mattson lived his entire life in Midway Township.  He passed away at home on February 1, 2024.  Born July 2, 1933, to Albin and Martha Mattson, Carl would have graduated with the Proctor High School class of 1951.  Just as the Korean War started, however, the lure of Marine Corps blue uniforms drew him to enlist in the reserves at age 17.  Despite his young age and his mother’s protests in Swedish, the Marines called Carl up, and he served two years.  He never received his blue uniform, having learned that he would have to pay extra for that. 

After his military service, Carl earned his GED and followed his father into railroad work before attending the University of Minnesota-Duluth.  After earning his BA, he worked for St. Louis County as a social worker until his retirement in 1991.   

Carl had a lifelong interest in steam engines and tractors of all types (he was partial to the Case VC, stemming from his youth on the farm).  He was active in the Lakehead Harvest Reunion.  There, he built many lasting friendships.   

Known for his sunny disposition, Carl loved to engage with people.  They appreciated his warm smile and extraordinary kindness.  Even children in the neighborhood knew where they could go to have their bikes repaired or their tires patched for free.   

Carl also loved family activities, including traveling, camping, fishing from the pontoon, snowmobiling, and bike riding.  He attended Augustana Lutheran Church for more than 60 years, and he sang in the church choir. He had grown up singing with his older sisters.     

Carl also appreciated bargains of all kinds.  He enjoyed auction sales with his sons, and finding good used vehicles, even those needing repairs that would deter others.  He took great satisfaction in his annual wood supply--some of dubious quality as he acquired it wherever he could find it.   

Some called Carl a Renaissance man, as he had wide and varied interests.  He took a furniture upholstery class, unfazed by the discovery that he was the only man in the class.  He also took adult guitar lessons from an elderly nun at St. Scholastica, always believing that he could try something new at any age.   

Throughout his life, whatever the circumstances, Carl kept a positive attitude, even when his summer venture into gold mining in Alaska yielded plenty of mosquito bites, but no gold.  He always enjoyed his life to the fullest.    

Carl was preceded in death by his son Rolf; his parents; his siblings Arlene Ide, Ruth Nelson, Marion Shannon, Byron and Frank, and Carol Fechner, as well as many cherished pets.  He is survived by Catherine, his wife of 63 years, and his children Walter, Eric (Tracey) and Nancy; grandchildren Carl John, Nicholas, Anne and Ryan; sisters Anna Prentiss and Berit Froehlich, and brother John, as well as dozens of nieces and nephews.  

The family would like to thank the amazing team at Essentia Home Hospice.  They took exceptional care of Carl and the rest of us during his illness. 

A 10:00 a.m. visitation will be held at Midway Christian Fellowship (formerly Augustana Lutheran Church) at 3251 Midway Road in Midway Township on February 6, 2024, followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m.