Adele Christianson Mathison

1940 - 2025

Adele B. Mathison passed away peacefully at Edenbrook in Appleton on Sunday, January 19, 2025. Adele was born on June 10, 1940, in Neenah, the daughter of Palmer and Kathryn Christianson. She graduated from Winneconne High School. Even early in life, Adele knew what she wanted, coming home at age 5 and telling her mother of the boy she met at Sunday school that she would marry. On February 4, 1961, she married Melvin Mathison at Grace Lutheran Church in Winchester, and they enjoyed 64 wonderful years of marriage.
Adele attended Fox Valley Tech in Appleton to become an LPN. She worked at Theda Clark Hospital in the Cardiac Activity Program (CAP) and later went back to school to become an R.N. She continued at Theda Clark earning the Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) designation.
Even though she was a hard worker, her family always came first. When Adele retired, she took care of her mother Kathryn in her days of hospice and provided daycare support as her children continued their academic careers and expanded their families. She was always the biggest cheerleader for her grandchildren with bold cheers during sporting events, an extra Bible verse and love yous added into birthday cards or just a call for checking in or a letter being sent out. In her free time, you could find her playing golf, watching her grandchildren playing sports, tending to her flower gardens, watching the Packers, or sitting by the fire enjoying a good book or TV show. She loved to spend time outdoors riding snowmobiles or most recently UTVs. A favorite weekend destination was visiting either Eagle River or their cottage in Townsend to watch the loons on the lake and take a boat ride to see the sunset.
Adele was admitted as a member of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, a Larsen Winchester Lioness, Knight Riders Snowmobile Club, actively served her church in various circles and bible studies, and proudly served as a board member for the Henrietta Foundation. Most importantly she cherished her time with family. She loved to watch cooking shows, putting the recipes to use, hosting family gatherings at their home whenever the Packers played, or kids were visiting. Adele enjoyed traveling and had a few favorite destinations – Germany, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and loved her cruises to the Panama Canal and Alaska.
She is survived by her husband, Melvin; children, Debra (James) Brewer, Denise (Steve) Krueger, Craig (Mindy) Mathison and Coreen (Andrew) Thomas; grandchildren: Josh (Shanna) Brewer, Jamie (Adam) Halder, Jordan (Catrina) Krueger, Meghan Krueger, Carter, Abigail, Lillian Mathison, Sydney, Alexander, Jackson Thomas; and great-grandchildren: Olivia Brewer, Aubrie and Jaidyn Halder. Adele is also survived by her brothers, Peter (Susan) Christianson and Barry (Janine) Christianson; and sister, Coral (Richard) Anderson; sister-in-law, Maxine Reese; brothers-in-law, Royden, Richard (Sandra), and Douglas (Kathryn) Mathison; many nieces and nephews and her longtime family friend Barbara Kluess.
Adele was preceded in death by her parents, Palmer and Kathryn Christianson; her in-laws, Vernon and Virginia Mathison; a sister, Laura; brothers-in-law, Steven Friedrich and John "Jack" Reese; her sisters-in-law, Karen Christianson and Susan Christianson; and a great-grandson, Pierce White.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to Mueller Funeral Home, Pastor Mark Laatsch at Grace Lutheran Church, the staff at Edenbrook in Appleton, Theda Clark Hospital, and the staff at Unity Hospice for their compassionate care for Adele.
To offer condolences to the family, a visitation took place Tuesday Jan. 28, from 3 to 6 p.m. with a funeral at 6 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 8396 Steeple Hill Drive, Larsen, with Pastor Mark Laatsch officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family would love to see memorials given to Grace Lutheran Church for their current elevator repair project, something Adele used frequently over the last few years.
Mueller Funeral Home-Winneconne is assisting the family. If you wish, please submit online condolences/memories to muellerfh.net.