Thomas Lawrence Matteson

May 2, 1929 - Sept. 19, 2010

A Celebration of Life honoring Thomas Lawrence Matteson, 81, beloved husband, father and grandfather, will be held on Friday, Oct. 1, at 1 p.m., at Nadeau Family Funeral Home with Chaplain Gretchen Shiltz officiating. Thomas passed away this past Sunday in his Vacaville home surrounded by his loving family. He was born on May 2, 1929, in Hopkins Minn., to John A. and Katherine M. (Brown) Matteson. He made Vacaville his home the past 35 years. He was a retired sales consultant in educational media. He worked for Britannica Films from 1969 to 1988 in Minnesota, Arizona and California and in seven western states for PBS from 1988 to 1998 when he retired. Previous to 1969, he was a high school educator and coach. A graduate of Hopkins High School in 1948 and of St. Cloud State, Minn., in 1953, he served as an officer in the USMC during the Korean War years. He was a member of the Solano County Genealogy Society and for several years was the Society's newsletter editor and board member.

He is survived by his wife, Norine, of Vacaville, Children, Thomas P. (Kimberly Evenson), Ann K. Gaviglio (Glen), Timothy J. of Fairfield, James L. of Vacaville, Elizabeth "Beth" Finkbeiner (William) of Auburn and Terrance "Terry" C. (Elizabeth Bolkcom) of Minn.; 10 grandchildren; brothers, George A. of St. Paul, Minn., and John S. of Tucson, Ariz. He was preceded in death by his sister, Jane Ann Pray (1926-2010).

Burial with full military honors will follow the service at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, Dixon. Memorial contributions may be made to NorthBay Hospice, 5140 Business Center Drive, Suite 130, Fairfield, Calif., 94533 or Solano Genealogy Society, 610 Main St., Vacaville, Calif., 95688. All arrangements entrusted to the care of Nadeau Family Funeral Home, 455-7700.