Earl Mathis
Earl Francis Mathis, 69, of Lansing died Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at Mayo Clinic Health System - Franciscan Healthcare in La Crosse, WI after a lengthy illness. Mass of Christian Burial was Tuesday, August 1 at St. Ann – St. Joseph Catholic Church, Harpers Ferry with Rev. John Moser as the Celebrant. Burial followed at St. Joseph Paint Rock Cemetery, rural Harpers Ferry with Military Rites.
Earl was born June 11, 1948 in Waukon to Delbert and Ann (Troendle) Mathis. He attended grade school in Waterville and continued to St. George High School in Lansing, graduating in 1966.
Earl entered the United States Army in 1968 and served as a Machinist and Clerk Typist for the two-year tour. Earl was united in marriage with Gail Hanken October 21, 1978 in Ossian. Their married years were spent together in Cedar Rapids and later the Robins area where Earl was employed by Iowa Manufacturing Co. (Cedarapids Inc.). He worked as a Machinist, Tool Grinder and Mechanic for some 43 years, making Rock Crushers and Pavers. He loved the challenge of machining the huge equipment they made.
Earl retired in 2010 and moved back to the Lansing area he had grown up in and loved. He found a cabin spot in the bluffs and worked on settling in. Earl had the knack for landscaping, planting trees, shrubs, gardening and even fencing.
He always enjoyed fishing and hunting as he grew up. In later years, Earl would be working on his ‘55 Chevy or taking in many an auction to find collectibles for his garage. You might see him cruising around the countryside on an afternoon.
Most of all, he loved spending time with family and friends, playing cards or sitting around a camp fire telling stories. He was a fun-loving, gentle man.
He is survived by his wife, Gail; his brothers, Cletus (Karen), Danny (Kathy), Cyril (Shirley) and John (Juliet); his sisters, Eloise (Glen) Reed and Mary (Daren) Kaeppel; and many loving nieces and nephews.
Earl was preceded in death by his parents, Delbert and Ann (Troendle) Mathis; and a nephew, Jason Kaeppel.
Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Lansing assisted the family with arrangements.
