As received from the Memorial Chapel Funeral and Cremation Service. If you have questions about, or potential corrections to the content, please contact the funeral home directly.
Donald Mattson, who most people knew as Wheezer, was born to Matt and Sigrid Heikkinen Mattson on July 27, 1928. His siblings were Dolores, Joyce, Jackie, and Karen. Summer and winter activities were enjoyed outdoors. Jackie and Wheezer delivered newspapers in Trimountain.
Wheezer attended Adams Township Schools and was a graduate of Painesdale High School. He always told everyone that he had to walk to school from Trimountain to Painesdale regardless of the weather.
After graduation, he joined the US Army as a Water Point Specialist. He was also in charge of delivering the food to the camp and often traded the tea he received for the coffee the British received.
After his discharge from the Army, he went to work for American Motors in Milwaukee. During one of the layoffs, the US Postal Service called him, for he had previously scored highly on the test needed to work for them, but turned them down several times until this particular moment. He always said that it was the best decision he ever made.
Wheezer walked ten miles a day in summer and winter. Later, he had a route where he delivered mail to elderly apartment dwellers and many gave him sweets and gifts because of his kindness to them.
While working at the post office, he was the Union Steward. He never lost a case while fighting for the workers. During his tenure at the post office, he and fellow workers went on strike for better pay.
When he retired from the postal service, he moved to South Range, where he worked tirelessly for the Veterans Post 6165. He sold poppies for Memorial Day, was an Honor Guard at the Memorial Day Service at the cemetery, honored many veterans at funerals, and took part in the pasty sales. Wheezer eyed the potatoes, and picked up the meat, and after they were baked, he then delivered them to businesses in Houghton and Hancock where people had ordered the special treat.
Marching in the 4th of July parade in town was an activity he enjoyed. He belonged to seven military organizations and was a Gold Circle member of the VFW.
He was extremely good to his South Range aunts. He visited and helped his Aunt Irene and Aunt Woppy. He also picked up the mail for his neighbor and aunts. When his cousin Gloria came to take care of her sister, Wheezer would take her shopping, and when they returned, she insisted she have a meal for him prepared. He felt that dinner was unnecessary, but Gloria was very adamant in showing her thanks.
When Wheezer moved to South Range, he continued his long walks along the railroad bed. He was most happy to have his Bichon dogs where were introduced to him by his sister Karen and her husband Glenn.
After Karen and Glenn moved to Leesburg, Fl, Wheezer bought a home near them for winter living, in a retirement community. This is where his Bichons came in to his life. The three of them often had Sunday meals together. Glenn and Wheezer went out for breakfast and lunch and especially enjoyed the time to be together after medical appointments.
He is survived by his sister Karen and her children, Glenn and Vanessa, his niece, Jackie Blackburn and her husband Darrell and their three daughters, Jessica, Jamie, and Jennifer with children Livy and Landon, and a nephew David with son Ryan.
A funeral service for Wheezer will take place at 12 noon, Saturday, May 23, 2026, at Grace Lutheran Church in South Range with Pastor Bonny Kinnunen to officiate. Burial with Military Honors will be held in the Mt. View Cemetery of South Range. Visitation will take place from 10am until the time of the service at the church.
To view this obituary or to send condolences online to the family, please visit www.memorialchapel.net.
The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Mt View Chapel of South Range is assisting the family with the arrangements.
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