Vern's Memorial Service

Welcome

Eulogy by Pastor Micah

Vernon M. Mattsen was born on Nov 27th, 1930 in Waubun, MN. He was born the 18th of 21 children of Martin Mattsen and the 10th child of Teckla (Joan) Waldorf Mattsen.

At the age of 11, when Vern’s father died, he lived with several farming families as a helper until he graduated from Mora High School. Vern worked various jobs and then farmed with his father-in-law, Roger Davis for 6 years. He then started working for various engineering companies. He was very good at designing and holds several patents for his designs. In 1961, Vern joined the Equitable Life Assurance Co and sold life insurance for the remainder of his working career, finally retiring at the age of 84. Vern served in the MN National Guard for 21 years, retiring at the rank of Captain.

Vern had a high work ethic and was a man of endless energy whether it was for his work or caring for his home and yard. In later years he enjoyed gardening and in quiet times, putting puzzles together. In the years prior to retirement Vern enjoyed his Business Forum group as well as being an active member of the Twin Cities Republicans.

On October 30, 2020 Vern of Aberdeen, SD passed away at the age of 90. He is survived by his wife, Mary Jo Mattsen, sister Gloria L Hawk, children Kenneth Mattsen (Mary), LeRoy Mattsen, Daniel Mattsen, Michelle Kraljic (Val), and Cheryl Mattsen; grandchildren Nicole, Krystal, Ann and Katerina; great grandchildren Austin and Daniel. Vern was predeceased by his wives, Blanche Mattsen, and Sherry Biel Mattsen and daughter Betty Mattsen.

Message

Psalm 23 ESV

A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23 is the heart wrenching hope filled cry of the heart of a man anticipating and awaiting the day when he will dwell, not in a home he created or built, but in a home prepared for by the Lord.

David’s heart is set upon the things of God because he knows this God, this Shepherd will be the one who will lead him through any of the battles he might face in this life but also the one to come.

When you place your focus on God, he sets your sight on the things above but then, much like this Psalm, it sets your eyes on the future and the hope that lies beyond.

This hope, this future affects today, it affects the way we see this day, this moment, the next moment, the next day. Most people are consumed by trying to figure out what the next move is how to answer those meaningful big questions and get lost in the details but those who put their faith in Jesus have the answer, its just a matter of figuring out how to apply it.

Now I did not know Vern, but I know Mary Jo. I’m excited to hear from others about Vern. But from the stories I have heard and am sure will hear in a bit, as Vern looked to the future hope, that hope dropped something in his lap he was not expecting. Vern didn’t know what to expect when his friend Ron told him about Mary Jo and Mary Jo didn’t know what to expect when she heard about Vern but regardless they both agreed and the two strangers became friends and those friends became spouses.

Now if you are above 50 following the service I will be passing out Julies and Ron information for you to have in case you want to rekindle that same fire.

They met at the Flame in Vern’s favorite booth, a booth the waitresses knew to give him and his newfound friend. It was in that booth that Vern rekindled a young love in the midst of his wisest years.

Guys if my math is correct, Vern was 86-87 years old! People under 35 and maybe 40 would call him a baller! Mary Jo stayed with Vern until he breathed his last breathe and the Lord took him to that place.

Remember the 23 Psalm, David looks to the Shepherd, the one who will prepare the place for us to go and dwell with him forever.

This Shepherd....

He leads

He makes us lie down

He restores

He comforts

He builds a house

David isn’t looking for a good idea, he isn’t just looking for a solution to a problem, he is looking to a person, he is looking for reality rooted in a relationship

John 14:1–3 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

The Shepherd David is waiting for is Christ. Jesus tells those closest to him that he is going to die and then prepare a place for them.

Jesus says the Builder of your future, the Shepherd who will care for your soul both now and into eternity is Jesus himself.

Vern has confirmation of this now.

HOW DID JESUS PREPARE A PLACE FOR US?

He reconciled us to himself

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 2:8 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Jesus died for our sins so that our reality might be rooted in a relationship with God Himself. We must acknowledge our sin and put our faith in him, then we too will have eternal life.

Jesus gave us grace, a gift we do not deserve.

Vern’s life points us to grace, his relationship with Mary Jo and their meet cute, again points us to grace.

Our builder has built us a house upon grace.

He leads out of grace

He makes me lie down out of grace

He disciplines out of grace

He restores because of grace

He comforts out of grace.

He builds out of grace.

When this is your motivation, when you see the grace God has given you and the future he has for you, it will affect the way you see today, the way you see tomorrow and you too can live in a reality rooted in a relationship with God himself. Have you experienced that Grace today, have you experienced that Grace that’s so amazing?

First Song Set

Amazing Grace by Madelyn Westby

The Lord’s Prayer by Madelyn Westby

Time of Sharing

Introduce the Time

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Microphone will be placed on this stand you can come grab it and share

Second Song Set

I can only imagine - Kristin Kumpf

How Great Thou Art - Kristin Kumpf

Open the Doors to the Fellowship Hall

Dismissal

On behalf of Mary Jo and the Family, I’d like to invite you out the side doors into the fellowship hall for sandwiches and refreshments.