Carl Mattfolk

A hardworking man of honor and integrity, Carl Mattfolk lived a life of purpose while being content in whatever came his way. He was filled with ingenuity and a knack for figuring out how things work, and he used these gifts and talents to bless those around him whenever he could. A more devoted family man would be hard to find, and the love Carl had for his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren was easy to see. An active part of the community he called home, he was a loyal friend to many. Although his will be deeply missed, his family finds comfort in knowing that he has been reunited with his beloved wife, and together they are enjoying perfect peace in their eternal home. Daily life for the Americans of the 1920s was transforming like never before. Washing machines, refrigerators, and radios were among the new conveniences that made their lives easier while the cultural fabric was colored by jazz music, the Charleston, and Broadway at its all time peak. Amidst this exciting time was the year 1924 that was met with great anticipation for Alfred and Alina (Anderson) Mattfolk as they were eagerly awaiting the birth of their fourth child as the beauty of summer began to unfold on the town of Muskegon, Michigan. The big day finally arrived when the baby boy they named Carl drew his first breath on May 25th. He was the youngest child in his family and was raised in the family home on Yuba Street alongside his bothers, Joel and George, and his sister, Dorothy. Carls father immigrated to America from Sweden, and Carl grew up in a neighborhood where many other Scandinavians lived. In many ways Carl was a young boy of his generation. He and his family attended Samuel Lutheran Church where he was also confirmed. Carl loved swimming, and he and his buddies were known to swim across Muskegon Lake to North Muskegon. He was a student at local schools, and his high school years found him at Muskegon High School where he was a member of the baseball team. As was not uncommon during this time, Carl left school during the 11th grade to help provide for the family. With plans for a bright future, Carl attended a local trade school to learn the skills of a machinist while also working at Federals Department Store. It was also during this time that he met the young woman with whom he would write a love story that would span 71 years. Her name was Phyllis Schoen, and they met through mutual friends. A dating relationship ensued, and it wasnt long before the couple found themselves deeply in love. Carl joined the United States Army during this time as the nation was deeply entrenched in WWII. He was injured during basic training so he remained stateside. Since his sweetheart was forever in the forefront of his mind, they became husband and wife on August 31, 1943, while he was still in the military. When his military duties were fulfilled they returned to Muskegon where Carl found work as a machinist at Continental Motors. Together they welcomed five children including Barbara, Michael, Marsha, Martin, and Jeffrey into their hearts and home. Their growing family moved a bit around town, but they eventually settled into a house on Greenwhich Street in Roosevelt Park where they called home for many years. Around the house Carl was a talented handyman who could fix almost anything including appliances, cars, and various household items - even plumbing and electrical work! He rarely called a repairman, and it was only after he had already attempted to fix something himself. Carl also tried to pass these skills on to his children, which he did with some success. He used his skills to help others with projects and repairs, too, like family members and friends. Carl was also one to keep everything in case he would need it on a different project at one time or another. A lifelong resident of the Muskegon area, Carl was an active part of his community. Both he and Phyllis were active members at Samuel Lutheran Church and raised all their children there as well. They were also active members of the Vikings and part of the 20 week club there that met every Wednesday night. After retiring with 35 years of dedicated service, Carl continued to keep busy in a variety of ways. He took over on the grocery shopping duties, and also loved spending time with his grandchildren. Carl especially loved capturing all of his grandchildrens school and sports activities with photographs. Because he was always close to his family, he and Phyllis could often be found at the home of his sister, Dorothy, on Friday nights. His mother also lived there, and together they all loved playing cards or just socializing at times. During their retirement years Carl and his wife spent many winters in Arizona, Nevada, and California, often close to where their children were living. They also traveled more extensively as they took a trip to London and also went to Mexico for their son Michaels wedding. When relaxing he could often be found reading, and he liked keeping up with current events. Carl was very computer savvy when it came to someone of his age, and he also found games on the computer to be a useful tool in keeping his mind sharp. During his sunset years Carl faced a few challenges with both strength and courage. His vision became compromised, which required him to give up driving. As both Carl and Phyllis needed more care they moved into assisted living. Also during this time, Phyllis bravely faced a cancer diagnosis and underwent treatment. This past September Carl was deeply saddened with the death of his beloved wife. Understandably, the days, weeks, and months that followed were very difficult for Carl. Last week he suffered a stroke from which he was unable to recover. All who knew Carl Mattfolk would agree that he was one of the kindest people around. He generously helped others, and he was there for his family whenever they needed him. A devoted grandfather, there was nothing that made Carl more proud than his family tree that blossomed to include numerous branches of loved ones. He will be forever missed but never forgotten. Carl Mattfolk died on Sunday, January 18, 2015. Carls family includes his daughter, Barbara (Ron) Teuscher of Las Vegas; sons, Michael Mattfolk of AZ, Martin (Kari) Mattfolk of Grandville, Jeffrey (Beth) Mattfolk of Del Mar CA; grandchildren, Randy, Kim, Marc, Wendy, Melissa, Dennis Jr., Jordan, Jared, Meghan, Joel, Joshua, Alex, Sam; seven great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Lois Baughman of NY; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Phyllis in September; daughter, Marsha in 2008; brothers, George & Joel and sister, Dorothy. Services will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2015, 11:00 a.m. at Samuel Lutheran Church with Rev. Marcy Miller officiating. Visit with Carls family and friends on Friday, January 23, 2015, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Clock Funeral Home - Muskegon & Saturday, one hour prior to the service. Memorials can be made to Samuel Lutheran Church.