- Date Of Birth: March 17, 1931
- Date Of Death: December 16, 2020
- State: Iowa
Lillian Irene Matern was born in Algona, Iowa on March 17, 1931, the daughter of Guy C. and Minnie Elizabeth (Swanson) Harmon. She grew up with four brothers and sisters around the area of her birth and graduated from Algona High School in 1947. Lillian graduated from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, and briefly taught school in Havelock, IA.
They raised their children in several northern Iowa and southern Minnesota towns while Hugh worked as a carpenter in the construction trades and Lillian primarily a homemaker. In 1972, they moved to Eagle Grove. Lillian operated the offset printer at the Eagle Grove High School for 17 years, retiring in 1993.
Lillian loved her family – she was an immensely proud mother, who always enjoyed hearing her family laugh and whose hobby it was to worry about each and every one of them! She also enjoyed reading, computer games, jigsaw puzzles and crossword puzzles.
Survivors include children: Christine Ellis of Eyota, MN, Mark (Martha) Matern of Blaine, MN, Elizabeth (Tom) Jasper of Humboldt, Catherine (Michael) McGuire of Davenport, Rosemary Baker of Humboldt, Rebecca (Doug) Varley of Dubuque, Matthew Matern of Eagle Grove, David (Mun) Matern of Bettendorf, as well as 21 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
