Matus, Ellen Marie

Ellen Marie Matus, 88, died Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, at the Hiawatha Care Center after a long illness. Services: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, by the Rev. Christopher Podhajsky. Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery. A prayer service will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at Teahen Funeral Home, where friends may visit from 4 to 7 p.m.  

Ellen is survived by her children, Bill (Sheryl) Matus of Central City, Barb (Mike) Driscoll of Cedar Rapids and Karen (Greg) Schultz of Robins; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Virginia Reding of Cedar Rapids.

Ellen was preceded in death by her husband, William; parents; and two brothers, Hank and Don Merklin.

Ellen Merklin was born May 5, 1921, in Cedar Rapids, daughter of Herman and Nora “Esther” Valliere Merklin. She graduated from Wilson High School in 1939 and married William J. Matus on March 28, 1943, in Neosho, Mo. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

           Ellen was a kind, beautiful and humble woman. She was a caretaker of her husband, whom she dearly loved. She loved to bake and cook and was always sending baked goods home with others. She enjoyed yearly family vacations to Minnesota and trips with her husband to Branson. 

Ellen was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. Her family was the joy of her life.   Ellen will continue to live in the lives, hearts and souls of those she leaves behind and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.  

Memorials may be directed to the American Diabetes Association. 

Online condolences may be offered to the family at