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Mattick, Frederick Jay

Fredek Jay Mattick, age 89, went home peacefully to be with the Lord on January 13, 2013, at New London Family Medical Center.

Jay was born in Chicago on May 17, 1923, son of the late Edward and Freda Mattick. He graduated from Senn High School in Chicago in 1941, attended Lawrence College and graduated from Northwestern University, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Banking, in 1948. He and his beloved wife of 64 years, Mary, were married on July 10, 1948. Growing up in Chicago, Jay experienced a life quite different from the one he had as an adult in New London. As a child he marveled at the gas lamplighters on his street, attended a high school of five thousand, and traveled with his younger cousin, Bill, to the Worlds Fair when he was only 10 years old. There he was lucky enough to see the first television, which came onto the market ten years later. Always the athlete, he struck out nineteen batters in an 8th grade baseball game, one day rode a hundred miles on his bicycle, always played a great golf game, and was a die-hard Cubs’ fan since childhood. He and his son, Paul relished watching every game.

Jay enlisted in the Air Corps, and served as a First Lieutenant Bombardier on a B-24 H Liberator in Italy. He and his crew, the “Snow White Squadron” were as close as brothers and had many Air Corps reunions throughout the years. He earned many medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war, the G.I. Bill allowed him to return to Lawrence College and his Fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon. Soon after returning to Lawrence, he met the love of his life, Mary Hartquist. After their first date, he called his mother and told her “I found the girl I’m going to marry, and her name is Mary.” Jay and Mary cherished each other and their life together, and were truly blessed to be lifelong sweethearts. Their love grew with the arrival of each of their three daughters and son. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were always a great source of joy to him. Jay instilled in his children the love of life, the importance of charity, and the love of God.

Jay had a varied career. He worked in the lumber business with his father-in-law Benjamin Hartquist, as a stock broker for Loewi and Company, and owned his own travel agency. Education and young people were always important to Jay and he served on the school board, and taught Sunday school. Exploring the world was a passion of his and Mary’s, traveling around most of the United States and taking special trips to Nova Scotia, Mexico, and to Europe. After their children were grown, he and Mary took up canoeing, including going up to the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota on one adventure. He loved the north woods of Wisconsin and spent many happy days on Archibald Lake. He and Mary treasured the time spent together in Bible Study and their daily devotions throughout their many years together. He was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in New London and was a part of the church families of Northwood’s Bible Fellowship Church, Lakewood and St. John’s Episcopal Church, New London.

He is survived by his four children: Christine (Randall) Olson, Karen (Jeffrey) Rugotska, Susan (Timothy) Attoe, and Paul Mattick; seven grandchildren: Brittany, Sarikka, Lars, Benjamin, Anders, Annika, and Holly, and four great-grandchildren: Alyson, Damien, Paxton, and another due to be born in the summer of 2013. Jay was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, and brother, George.

The funeral for Jay will be held on Friday, January 18, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. at The First Congregational United Church of Christ, 110 E. Hancock St., New London, presided by Pastor Greg Watling and Father Paul Feider. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. Memorials may be sent to a charity of your choice. Special thanks to his physician of many years, Dr. Donn Fuhrmann, his P.A., Chris Klimek, and the nurses and staff at New London Family Medical Center.

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