Martin Bernard "Bud" Mattern

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved brother, uncle and grand uncle, Martin (Bud) Mattern, who left us on July 27, 2024, less than a month before his 82nd birthday.

Bud/Uncle Buddy, as he was fondly called by friends and family, was born the last of 13 children on August 14, 1942 to Anton and Martha (Jankowski) Mattern (deceased) in Menasha, Wisconsin. [Bud’s clever quote on his 80th birthday, “Columbus discovered our world in 1492. Our world discovered me in 1942”] He grew up in Menasha, where he attended St. John’s Grade School and Menasha High School. He received the Chemistry Medal at MHS where he had had special permission to take chemistry early as a sophomore. He later pursued his passion for chemistry at Lawrence University for one year before transferring to St. Norbert College where he received a B.S. in chemistry.

Bud was employed at Abbott Laboratories in North Chicago as a chemist from 1966 until his retirement in 2016. His hospital products division eventually became Hospira, the world's largest producer of generic injectable pharmaceuticals and Hospira in turn was acquired by Pfizer, among their products being the Covid vaccine. The most rewarding part of his research was mentoring the young, bright employees, who often came to him with respect for his intelligent, complete, and honest answers. On his first day at Abbott, he met Ben Reyes who has remained his best friend for the past 58 years even though they’ve lived in different parts of the country for the past several decades.

Bud loved music, both performing and appreciating. He sang in the St. Norbert choir, with which he had a memorable tour to Reykjavik, Iceland. Most recently he sang in the St. Paul the Apostle Church choir in Gurnee, IL. He also was self-taught on piano for both classical and jazz. He was a true sports fan and an enthusiastic tennis, racket ball and hand ball player as well as a golfer which he played with his family members, friends and fellow employees until the end. He was also an avid reader and thoughtful analyst of world events.

Bud is preceded in death by 5 brothers, Richard, Eugene, Kenny, Gerry and Tony and two sisters, Therese Mattern and Mary (Mattern) Jones, one nephew and one grandnephew. He is survived by his brothers Fr. Joe Mattern and Jim (Joy Medler) Mattern and his sisters Katie Franson, Jane (Jim) Spensley and Roseann Mattern and two sisters-in-law, Anne Defenderfer (Gerry) Mattern and Dee Wohoske (Tony) Mattern, as well as 29 loving nieces and nephews and 47 grand nieces and nephews. For his nieces, out of 7 or 8 uncles Bud was their favorite. We will all miss his quiet, intelligent, honest, consistent demeanor and quick and extremely insightful wit. He WILL be remembered.

Bud’s burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, at St. John’s Cemetery in Menasha with family members present and Fr. Joe officiating and there will be a celebration of his life at 1:00 p.m.at the Waverly Beach Bar & Grill in Menasha for all to have lunch, visit and pay tribute.

Donations can be made in Bud’s honor to Casa Esther Catholic Worker, Fr. Joe Mattern Founder/President, at 320 N. Webster, Omro, WI 54963.