Alice J. Matthies, 76, was called to her eternal home on Monday, September 20, 2010 at her home in Tucson, Arizona.
She was born May 13, 1934 in Merrill, Wi, daughter of the late Wilbur Gunell and the late Loretta (Faufau) Gunell Jochman. She was preceded in death by her sister, Dianne Lagessie. She is survived by her husband, Reverend Richard Matthies of Tucson; four sons, Mark Matthies of Denver, Luther Matthies of Tucson, Luke (Monica) Matthies of Oklahoma, Joel Matthies of Green Bay; and one daughter, Laurie (Victor) Voss of Chicago; eight grandchildren, Tyler and Baylee Matthies, Hannah and Adam Matthies, Alexa and Jameson Matthies, and Alexander and Callan Voss.
In August of 1957, she married Richard J. Matthies at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Merrill, Wi. She was a 1952 graduate of Merrill Senior High School and received her Bachelor of Music Education from Augustana College-Rock Island, Il, in June of 1957, graduating summa cum laude. She completed her Master of Arts in December of 1975 at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. Her passion for music led her to many teaching positions as well as being a private piano and organ teacher, organist, and choir director. In May 2010, an Arizona Republic article recognized her as the most senior educator in the state of Arizona. Her interests included attending musical concerts, gardening, and reading, particuraly about history and culture. She was an avid traveler, visiting six of the seven continents.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, September 24, 2010 at Acension Lutheran Church, Tuscon, AZ, with Pastor Luther Esala officiating. Chartiable donations can be made in her honor to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.