Charles W Matlock Sr.

     Charles W. Matlock Sr., 80, of Lansing, IA, formerly of Eastman, WI, died Monday, March 20, 2023, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI.

 A celebration of life was held from 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM on Sunday, April 2, 2023, at Thornburg - Grau Funeral Home in Lansing. Burial with military honors will take place on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at 10:00 AM at Edgewood Cemetery in Edgewood, IL.

      Charles Wesley Matlock, Sr. was born March 23, 1942, in Effingham, IL, the son of Roy and Ruth (Allen) Matlock. After graduating from Effingham High School, Charlie worked at J and L Plastic, making model cars for one year. Charlie then spent four years in the U.S. Navy and was sent to France, Cuba, Spain, Italy, and Ireland. In 1962, he served on the USS Stribling when it rescued Col. John Glenn after his Apollo mission. Once discharged, Charlie worked in Iola, IL, doing construction. At this time, he met Barbara Ramsey. They married and Charlie gained two stepchildren: Kent and Kim Ernst; they also had three children together: Roy, Charlie Jr., and Opal. They moved to central Illinois, living in Aurora, Mendota, and Earlville, and he worked as a factory worker. Charlie and Barbara later divorced.

     Later, Charlie met Deanna Boyles and they were married for 40 years; he gained three more stepchildren: Bill, Matt, and Crystal Heinzeroth. They continued to live in central Illinois and Charlie worked in construction. In 2001, he decided he wanted to be closer to his kids and moved to Wisconsin. Charlie worked at Design Homes in Prairie du Chien, WI, building houses until retiring at the age of 62. In 2019, he then moved to Lansing, IA, where he spent his remaining years.

     After retiring, Charlie spent a lot of time in his basement doing woodworking and loved making gifts for his grandchildren. Toys, chimes, and lawn ornaments were things he specialized in making. Primarily, he loved spending time with family.

     Charlie is survived by his children: Roy Matlock, Sr. of Woodman, WI, Charles Matlock, Jr. of Illinois, Opal (Peter) Hostert of De Soto, WI, Kent (Jeannie) Ernst of De Soto, WI, Matthew Heinzeroth of Illinois, Crystal Heinzeroth of Illinois, and Kim Anderson of Sandwich, IL; 17 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

     He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Deanna in 2018; son Bill Heinzeroth; granddaughter Karmen Mercer; his sisters and their husbands: Hazel (Lawrence) Murphy, Alberta (Russell) Schoen, Zalia (Lloyd) Nelson, and Velma (Virgil) Weaver; and his brothers and their wives: Lee (Betty) and Clinton (Vivian) Matlock.

     Honorary urnbearers are Roy Matlock, Sr., Kent Ernst, Roy Matlock, Jr., David Manders, Connor and Levi Ernst, Dustin Riggins and Tyler Aspenson.

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