John H. Matern, 94, joined the Church Triumphant on September 18, 2023. He was born in Schenectady, N.Y., to William and Pearl Booth Matern on August 5, 1929.

John graduated from Mont Pleasant High School in 1947 and earned his BSEE from Union College in 1952. He was employed as an electrical engineer at Arma Corporation in Brooklyn, N.Y.

John was then led to become a teacher at the Chapel of the Redeemer Lutheran School, Flushing N.Y. In 1961, he received a call to serve as the principal of St Peter Lutheran School, Lockport, N.Y. John then earned a Master of Science in Education from Buffalo State in 1967. He returned to Chapel of the Redeemer in 1968 and served as teacher/principal until 1991.

After retiring he lived in Galway, N.Y. and Newport News, Va. and then moved to Newtown, Conn. in 2017. He continued to serve the Lord with gladness during his retirement. John was commissioned as a deacon of the Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, worked as a Stephen Minister, and served with Harvesters for Christ assisting congregations in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Georgia.

John loved the Lord and loved his family. Nothing was more special to John than spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren. Special memories were made at his family Camp, swimming and snorkeling at Great Sacandaga Lake, and camping adventures in Wisconsin, New England, Long Island, and out West.

John also enjoyed bowling, basketball, singing in church and in the choir, and playing the harmonica.

He was predeceased by his parents; brothers Bill and George; and sisters Jane, Betty, and Martha. John is survived by his wife of 67 years, Carol (Seitz) Matern; sister, Pearl Albrechtsen and brother, Paul (Kathy) Matern; children Kathryn (Thomas) Fisher, Jane (Edward) McGrath, Mary (Bart) Izzo, and Deborah Matern (Peter) Graf; grandchildren Mark Fisher, Amy Paynter, Domenick Izzo, Michelle Swider, Patrick McGrath, John Izzo, Kathrine Graf, Angelina Mezick, Katie McGrath, Kristin Fisher, Daniel Graf, Carol Schmotzer, and Shawn McGrath; five great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 23 at 11 am at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 85 Mt Pleasant Road, Newtown CT 06470. The burial service will be in Galway Village Cemetery, Galway, N.Y. on Sunday, September 24 at 2 pm. Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main St Newtown is serving the family.

Contributions in memory of John may be given to the memorial fund of Christ the King Lutheran Church at the above address.

Well done, good and faithful servant.