Gregory A. Matteson, 67, of Ottawa, passed away on Sunday, January 24, 2021, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, private services will be held Thursday morning at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottawa, with Pastor David Ufkes officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
Greg was born July 18, 1953, to Erling and Violet (Peterson) Matteson in Newark, Illinois. He graduated from Newark High School, and received associate degrees from Joliet Junior College and Illinois Valley Community College. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Illinois State University.
Greg married Cheryl Thorson on June 17, 1978 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottawa.
He farmed in Serena and Wallace Townships for over 40 years. In addition to his love of farming, he worked as an adjunct instructor in the biology lab at Illinois Valley Community College for 20 years.
Greg took great pleasure and pride in his hobby of woodworking, especially when a project was a gift for another person. Having a soft spot for animals, he adopted stray cats and gave them a loving home on his Serena farm. He was a kind, thoughtful, determined, strong man who will be missed.
He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and the LaSalle County Farm Bureau.
Greg is survived by his loving wife, Cheryl; his brother, Kenneth (Ruby) Matteson, of Morris; his sister-in-laws, Billie Jean Matteson of Ottawa and Sue Dolder of Urbana; his nephews, Michael (Shannon) Matteson, of Marseilles, and Craig (Kay) Matteson, of Morris; his nieces, Lisa (Ed) Oppenlander, of Morris, Wendy (Ken) Briley, of Minooka, Cheri Matteson, of Ottawa, and Dr. Linda (Marcus) Dolder-Harris, of Urbana, as well as several great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, David Matteson; his brother-in-law, Stephen Dolder; and his in-laws, Orville and Yvonne Thorson.
Pallbearers will be David Tuntland, Ken Knudson, Michael Matteson, Craig Matteson, Luke Matteson, and Marcus Harris.
He was laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.