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John Matteson Obituary

JOHN MATTESON John Merwin Matteson, 83, of Henderson, passed away Sept. 20, 2010. He was born Feb. 15, 1927, in Brooklyn, N.Y., and was a 14-year resident of Nevada. John (aka "Jack" or "Poppy") was a devoted husband and father. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a proud New York City detective and also owned a successful home improvement business in Brooklyn. John was married for 57 years to Jeannette. He humbly served as a Eucharistic minister at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Henderson. He was spiritual and lived by the Serenity Prayer. Everyone loved his hearty laugh. He was a great story teller and historian. John was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jeannette Matteson; and loving daughter, Dawn; parents, Sarah and William; brothers, Billy and Arthur; and sister, Marie Collins. He is survived by his beloved wife, Carol Wulffraat; loving daughters and their husbands respectively, Maureen and Richard Aquilina and Pam and Timothy Biddle; granddaughter and her husband, Tara and Alexander Conteh; grandson, Richard John Aquilina; sisters, Doris Garcia and Helen Mitchell; and brother, Robert Matteson. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 130 N. Pecos Road, in Henderson, (702) 361-3022. Donations can be made to the LAM Foundation.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Las Vegas Review-Journal from Sep. 25 to Sep. 26, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for John Matteson

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Pat Sanchez

October 4, 2010

You have to know the angels are celebrating to have Jack with them. If heaven was great before, just think how happy they must be with him there! I do hope they have plenty of jelly beans for his sweet tooth. He will be missed by all who knew him. I am sorry for our loss.

Sawsan & Saad Shukri

October 3, 2010

Dear Maureen
Our Deepest sympathies and sincere condolences to you and the whole family. Jack will always be remembered in the most loving way, as a wonderful father, husband and grandfather, who was strong, cheerful with a great sense of humor. He certainly taught Saad how to carve the Thanksgiving Turkey! We will keep him in our prayers. Our love to you, Rich, Tara, Alex and Richard.

October 2, 2010

I will always remember your dad when he called me. The first thing he would say when I answered the phone would be is this my favorate niece from Brooklyn. I always answered yes it is! He always had a happy and cheerful voice no matter what. He always made you feel good no matter how you were feeling, I am so happy that I was able to talk with him before he passed. Love you all

Courtney Aquilina

October 1, 2010

Hi Aunt Maureen, Uncle Rich, Tara and Alex, and Richard,

I'm so sorry about your loss. I know it must be really hard and I wish that we were closer--family always makes things better! I want you to know that I'm thinking and praying for you all. Jack was such a vivacious man! I only remember him at an older age and that is my recollection, so I can't imagine all the wonderful stories and charismatic moments you must have shared in his younger years too. He led such a full life, I feel that he genuinely enjoyed (and smiled!) every femtosecond (that's every 10^-15 or one quadrillionth of a second, he deserves the prefix) of it and I'm sure he's looking down on all of you now, hoping that in his passing we will all remember to do the same.

All my love,

Courtney Rose

Nancy Guarisco

October 1, 2010

JACK LOVED A GOOD MOVIE, A GOOD STORY AND A GOOD JOKE. I LOVED HIS HEARTY LAUGH. WE BOTH SHARED OUR LOVE OF ICECREAM.. ... I MISS YOUR MOM VERY MUCH..SHE WAS MY BEST FRIEND..I'LL MISS JACK BUT COMFORTED KNOWING THEY ARE TOGETHER AGAIN.
MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL OF YOUR FAMILY, I KNOW HE LOVED YOU DEARLY.AND WILL BE TERRIBLY MISSED. I WILL HAVE A MASS SAID FOR GINGER AND JACK AT MY CHURCH CURE OF ARS , SO THAT MY GIRLS AND I CAN ATTEND THE MASS AND PRAY FOR THEM.
JACK AND GINGER PASSED ON, BUT THEIR MEMORY LIVES ON FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS.
I LOVE YOU ALL AND WISH YOU GOD'S BLESSINGS.
NANCY

Mary & John Kleps

September 30, 2010

Maureen,

I can’t tell you how sorry we were to hear about your dad’s passing. He was definitely one of those people that you thought would be around forever. His wonderful smile and great laugh will live forever in our memories.

I have a vivid memory of your dad opening the door of his sparkling new black Nissan Maxima for your mother outside the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City. I have no doubt that his “Ginger Lovely” and his beloved Dawn were there holding the door open for him when he arrived in Heaven.

Please extend our sympathies to Rich, Tara & Alex, R.J., Pam & Tim. You have all been in our thoughts.

Sincerely,

Mary & John

Nameer Shukri

September 30, 2010

I am deeply sorry to hear about the passing of your father. I hope you and your family are coping well with your loss. Your father will always stand out as one of the kindest and warm-hearted men I have met. Take care and hope to see you soon.

Love,
Nameer

Dorothy & Dave Slovak

September 30, 2010

Your Dad was a loving, handsome and charming man. I know that you will miss him very much. He was always so proud of all of you.

Kathleen Mulvaney

September 28, 2010

You two have been on my mind and I wanted to send my deepest condolences. It goes without saying that Poppy was such a great man, a beautiful man….and he will be deeply missed. It makes me happy to know he is with the loved ones that have been waiting for him. I am wishing I could hug you both in person right now, but my little message will have to do.
Love to the family.
Love always, Kat

Chantel Long

September 28, 2010

I was so sorry to hear about Poppy's passing. He was very kind, had great stories as well as a contagious laugh. He will be missed by many.

Maria Lucie

September 28, 2010

Jack,
We will miss you so much. Please say hi to my dad because I know you two are together!! We love you,
The Lucies

jerry & paulette glass

September 28, 2010

jack will always be remembered as the first NYC detective to read the "Miranda Rights" in Brooklyn.
he was a great guy and we enjoyed listening to his stories.
he always made us laugh, as he had such a great sense of humor.

September 28, 2010

Your family is in our thoughts and prayers. The staff of The LAM Foundation

Kathy Rule

September 27, 2010

Dear Maureen and Pam,
I know too well how painful it is for a daughter to lose her father. My father's funeral was 39 years ago today and my heart still aches. Jack was a gift to our family, as he was to humanity - selfless, grateful, optimistic, loving and kind. And more. It was always a pleasure to be in his presence. I send you my love and prayers as you grieve. Much love to you both and Rich, Tim, Kara and RJ. Kathy (Kleps) Rule

Heidi Freeman

September 27, 2010

Jack will be missed by everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him. The thoughts of many are with you.

Steve Oshins

September 27, 2010

I was very sorry to hear about Jack. He was a very good guy. We've enjoyed seeing him and his family over the years.

Hugh McMahon

September 27, 2010

Dear Maureen,

Please know that you and your entire family are in my prayers. I will have your dad remembered at Mass and Rosary tonight.

I met your dad only once many years ago and found him to be a warm and gentle man. May the angels lead him into paradise.

September 27, 2010

My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time. Jack was an amazing man. I'll always remember how his beaming smile lit up the room at the LAM fundraisers. May you hold tight to all your wonderful memories. Love, Dana Wilkinson

Suzanne Delaney

September 27, 2010

"Very few people come into our lives and leave such a lasting impression. Jack always had a kind word, comforting smile and a love for life. Everyone that had the pleasure of knowing him are better for it.. Jack you will always be loved and missed by all." ~Suzanne Delaney

Kenny&Deirdre(Davey) Knight

September 27, 2010

Words cannot express how sorry we are For the loss of your Dad (Our Uncle Jack). Both of your parents were so sweet and always put a smile on our faces when they were around. Still today when we watch our engagement video and Uncle Jack says " I would like to say Congratulations to Kenny and DAVEY and what a wonderful couple they are" it always brings and smile to our faces. Kenny still sometimes will call me Davey and makes me think of Uncle Jack and brings a smile to my Face.
We are better people for knowing your parents and the world is a lesser place without them.
You always have family in New York and a place to stay.
All our love ,
Kenny & Deirdre(DAVEY)

Bob Capriotti

September 26, 2010

With deepest synpathy,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family in your time of sorrow.
I will miss his smiling face at the Gym.

Fondly,
Bob & Margaret Capriotti

Chandra Aquilina

September 26, 2010

In loving memory of a perfect gentleman whose love of life and family is an inspiration. We will love you forever!

Chandra, Bob, Lauren and Brienne

Maureen Aquilina

September 26, 2010

Dad, my memories of you will always light up my heart. Your laughter, silliness, storytelling, piggyback rides, yodeling, singing, and how hard you worked to support your family are the memories I will keep forever.
I will miss you and I will always remember the legacy that you would want us to have ... a prayer that you lived by "God Grant Me the Serenity to Accept the Things I Cannot Change, the Courage to Change the Things I Can, and the Wisdom to Know the Difference." Love Always, Maureen

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