George Emil Mattegat, Sr, 87, died January 6 at Leesburgh Hospital in Florida, with his wife and friends at his bedside. He was born in Bridgeport, to Ada and Emil Mattegat, on July 19, 1929. He grew up in Monroe, and then moved to Newtown when he was 21 years old. He was a resident of Newtown for 66 years, before moving to The Villages, Florida, in 2014.

Mr Mattegat served in the US Navy during World War II, having enlisted at the age of 16.

He was animal control officer for many years in Newtown. He owned and operated school bus #17 in Newtown, driving children for more than four decades.

Mr Mattegat was a past master of Hiram Lodge in Sandy Hook and a Shriner in Connecticut, where he was president of the two clubs. He was also a past member and former president of the Newtown Lions Club and a Sandy Hook firefighter since 1952 (and later elected Life Member). He was a member of the Nunnawauk Meadows board of directors and the VFW of Newtown. He also co-chaired the Newtown Labor Day Parade in 1975.

In Florida, Mr Mattegat was a member of the Shriners Club and the American Legion in The Villages.

His wife of 46 years, Carol; his sons and their wives, Jay and Melanie Mattegat of Newtown, George Mattegat, Jr, of Rhode Island, and William and Holly Mattegat of Texas; his daughter and her husband, Carol Ann and Artie Swendsen of Montana; and stepson, Paul Harrison of Ohio, survive him. Mr Mattegat is also survived by his grandchildren, Alexandra and Ethan Mattegat; Lauren Morehouse and husband, Daniel; Jacey Mattegat; Donald E. Butler, Jr; Nicole Logue; and Logan and Lalia Butler; as well as three great-grandchildren.

A wake will beheld at Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street in Newtown, on Friday, January 13, from 2 to 4 pm and 7 to 9 pm. Services will be at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 85 Mount Pleasant Road, Newtown, on Saturday, January 14, at 10:30 am. Mr Mattegat will be buried with military honors in Stepney Cemetery in Monroe.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to one of the following organizations: Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Association, PO Box 344, Newtown CT 06470; Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue, PO Box 783, Sandy Hook CT 06482; or Shriners Children's Hospital, 51 Blossom Street, Boston MA 02114.