Ernest Carl "Ernie" Mattson, 69, of N-10615 Vanderhagen Rd., Ironwood Township, retired Ironwood area educator and businessman, went to be with his Savior unexpectedly Wednesday evening, July 23, 2008, at St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth, Minn., where he had been a patient since Sunday, July 20. Ernie was born in Ironwood on Oct. 1, 1938, son of the late Carl and Arline (Heuer) Mattson, and lived his childhood at Little Girl's Point. After the death of his father he lived during winters in Algoma, Wis., graduating from Algoma High School in 1956. He then went on to graduate from Gogebic Community College, Wisconsin State University, Superior, and Northern Michigan University in Marquette, finishing finally with his master's degree in math education. He taught math and physics at Luther L. Wright High School from 1961 until his retirement in 1995. In the 1980's he founded his own company, Environmental Consulting and Inspection Services, which he worked at until his death. Ernie enjoyed a wide variety of community interests. He was a longtime member of the Copper Peak Board of Directors and a former member of the Ironwood Theater Board. He was chairman of the Ironwood Township Planning Commission, a member of the Ironwood Area Board of Education, and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Ironwood, where he had served on many boards, most recently as chairman of the Board of Elders. He loved his Lord, his family and his church. He also enjoyed working on and tuning some of the many pipe organs in the area. He, along with the late Jerry Kinnunen, was instrumental in the original restoration of the Ironwood Theater pipe organ. He also helped to install several pipe organs. Along with his wife JoAnn, Ernie enjoyed gardening, especially enjoying and nurturing his roses. He was married to the former JoAnn E. Strand on Dec. 26, 1964, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ironwood, by the late Rev. Reino R. Heikkinen. JoAnn survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Carrie (Scott) Steinlicht, Brookings, So. Dakota and Sheri Mattson, Warrensburg, Mo.; and a son, Paul (Dori), Ironwood Township; four grandchildren, Corissa and Bo Mattson and Carl and Johanna Steinlicht; a brother, Rev. Leonard Daniel (Rebecca) Mattson, Arcadia, Fla.; an aunt and uncle, Isla and Waldo Stuth, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.; numerous nieces and nephews; and brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Ronald and Joan Strand, Ironwood and Florida, John Strand, Menomonee Falls, Wis., and Eunice and Paul Hansen, Fontana, Calif. At the family's request, cremation has taken place. A memorial service in celebration of Ernie's life will be held Monday, July 28, at 11 a.m., at Trinity Lutheran Church, 5104 E. Margaret St., in Ironwood, with the Rev. Wesley Baumeister officiating. Committal services will take place at the church, with luncheon to follow in the church fellowship hall. Private inurnment will be in Sunset Acres Cemetery in Ironwood Township. Relatives and friends may call at the church from 9 to 11 a.m. on Monday. To view Ernie's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick and Engstrom Funeral and Cremation Services of Ironwood and Hurley.