Donovan “Don” Keith Matson of Marengo,Illinois died peacefully in his home on Saturday, March 4, 2023.
Don was born in Fosston, Minnesota on April 16, 1936, to parents Arnold and Pearl (nee Hanson) Matson. He married Elaine Lindblom on June 20, 1959 in Chicago, where the couple had two daughters.
Don was loved by his family, friends, church, and many in the community. He never shied away from helping others and had a way of making anyone he met feel special. Don served faithfully in church his whole life. He had a love of Gospel quartet music and sang in a quartet at church.
Don is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Elaine Matson, his daughters, Valerie (Rick) Koubek, and Vicki (Ken) Kloes, his grandchildren, Krysta (Mike), Rick (Emily), Josh (Rachel), Chloe (fiancé Nick), Annika (Derek), Riley, Rafeon, Brian, and Janiya, and his great-grandchildren, Grace, Donovan, Serafin, Eloise, Oliver, and three more great grandsons, Cooper, Axel and Hugo to be born in May.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Lois (Ken) Glasener.
Visitation will be Saturday, March 18, 2023 from 10 a.m. to time of Memorial Service 12 noon all at Marengo First Assembly of God, 22817 West Grant Highway, Marengo.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Don’s name can be made to Samaritan’s Purse https://sampur.se/3YKDTPp
For more information, please contact the DeFiore Funeral Home 847-515-8772, or online condolences may be submitted to www.defiorefuneral.com
Please leave a video condolence by entering your name and click the "Record" button below. You can always preview your video prior to submitting it. Please note that you may be prompted to allow DefioreFuneral access to your camera.
Don... You are one of the people in my life that I thought would be with me always. And, so, I am missing you deeply.
Donavon Matson was a man that we highly respected. We will miss him at Matson gatherings.
Like everyone, I have always had the highest regard for Donovan Matson and his family. Over the years l observed a warm, genuine and fun loving man. He lived his entire life to please God. We wish we could be there to celebrate the full worth of Cousin Donovan. Love and prayers to Elaine especially.
I will never forget your sweet smile and hugs. I am forever grateful for the love and care you and Elaine shared with me when I needed it most. Thank you for being my family. Until we meet again..
There is a church in Idaho that has the guiding philosophy of “all of Christ for all of life”. And that is how I will remember Don. 52 years ago I first met him and worked with him on the concrete crew. He became a mentor for me but also a friend, fellow Christian brother and technology enthusiast. He was the Master of ceremony at our wedding and even flew a hang glider I built way back in 1972. In all the years I’ve known Don he showed Christian virtues through his concern for others, integrity, humility, good humor, strong work ethic and wisdom. He would always strive to do high quality work. It can can be very difficult to keep a Christian demeanor when working on a concrete slab that won’t set up at midnight or in the blazing summer heat. But I’ve seen Don do it. And when waiting for the concrete to set up he would often talk about his faith in Jesus and his family. Don taught me a lot about what a Christian man should strive for and an attitude toward work that I carry with me today. I look forward to seeing him again on the other side.
There is a church in Idaho that has the guiding philosophy of “all of Christ for all of life”. And that is how I will remember Don. 52 years ago I first met him and worked with him on the concrete crew. He became a mentor for me but also a friend, fellow Christian brother and technology enthusiast. He was the Master of ceremony at our wedding and even flew a hang glider I built way back in 1972. In all the years I’ve known Don he showed Christian virtues through his concern for others, integrity, humility, good humor, strong work ethic and wisdom. He would always strive to do high quality work. It can can be very difficult to keep a Christian demeanor when working on a concrete slab that won’t set up at midnight or in the blazing summer heat. But I’ve seen Don do it. And when waiting for the concrete to set up he would often talk about his faith in Jesus and his family. Don taught me a lot about what a Christian man should strive for and an attitude toward work that I carry with me today. I look forward to seeing him again on the other side.
There is a church in Idaho that has the guiding philosophy of “all of Christ for all of life”. And that is how I will remember Don. 52 years ago I first met him and worked with him on the concrete crew. He became a mentor for me but also a friend, fellow Christian brother and technology enthusiast. He was the Master of ceremony at our wedding and even flew a hang glider I built way back in 1972. In all the years I’ve known Don he showed Christian virtues through his concern for others, integrity, humility, good humor, strong work ethic and wisdom. He would always strive to do high quality work. It can can be very difficult to keep a Christian demeanor when working on a concrete slab that won’t set up at midnight or in the blazing summer heat. But I’ve seen Don do it. And when waiting for the concrete to set up he would often talk about his faith in Jesus and his family. Don taught me a lot about what a Christian man should strive for and an attitude toward work that I carry with me today. I look forward to seeing him again on the other side.