Darlene Mattke

Lucille “Darlene” Mattke, most recently of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, died peacefully on Saturday, February 4, 2023. Memorial Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 15, 2023, at First Lutheran Church in Marshall, Minnesota. After the service, interment will occur in the Marshall Cemetery followed by a reception in the church basement. Visitation at the church will be held one hour prior to the service, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of her celebration at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Glenn Mattke Scholarship at SMSU.

Lucille Darlene Hustad was born on November 12, 1927, in Granite Falls, Minnesota, and was baptized at Rock Valley Lutheran Church near Echo, Minnesota. She spent her formative years in Echo and graduated from Echo High School in 1945. Darlene received her teaching certificate from St. Cloud State University in 1947. She taught elementary school from 1947-1951 in Morton, Minnesota, where she met Glenn Mattke.

Darlene and Glenn were married June 9, 1951, at Rock Valley Lutheran Church. The couple moved to St. Peter, Minnesota, where Darlene taught from 1951-1957. They then moved to Marshall, Minnesota, where Darlene concentrated on being a loving mother and homemaker. She returned to teaching in Marshall at East Side Elementary School in 1970. Taking summer and evening classes, Darlene completed her bachelor’s degree at Southwest Minnesota State University in 1974. She retired in 1988 after serving as a professional teacher for over 30 years - teaching primarily 1st and 2nd grade. Darlene moved to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in December of 2019.

In addition to teaching, her service to others in Marshall included volunteer work for Meals-on-Wheels, the hospital gift shop, and the Alter Guild at First Lutheran Church where she was also a dedicated parishioner and Bible study participant. Her favorite activities included reading, celebrating her Norwegian heritage, shopping, antiquing, browsing flea markets, growing flowers, feeding birds, and keeping her mind sharp with games like Sudoku, Sequence, Wheel of Fortune. And Bridge. For many years, she enjoyed participating in a Bridge club consisting of mostly colleagues from Marshall schools. Darlene enjoyed spending time with family and friends at home and at the lake cabin.

Darlene died peacefully in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She reached the age of 95 years, 2 months, and 23 days. Blessed be her memory.

Darlene is survived by her sons, James (Denise) Mattke of Stoughton, WI, Thomas Mattke of Oshkosh, WI, Mark Mattke of Owatonna MN; grandchildren, Jason (Roxanna) Mattke of Chula Vista, CA, Michelle (Tye) Haslip of Carver, MN; and a sister, Margaret Naylor of Anoka, MN.

Darlene was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn Mattke; parents, Knute and Lena (Nyrness) Hustad; brothers, Keith Hustad, Myron "Sam" Hustad; and sisters, Charlotte Donner, Gloria Willoughby.