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Gary C. Mattila Obituary – 11/13/2014


Gary Curtis Mattila, age 60 of Cokato, passed away Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014, after a two-year battle with cancer.

He was born Oct. 13, 1954, in Cokato, to Jerald and Mildred Mattila, and grew up in Dassel.

Gary married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Raisanen, Jan 12, 1974. They were blessed with nine children, and 40 years of marriage.

Gary attended the sales and marketing program at Hutchinson Vo-Tech, and was a salesman in the agriculture field for his entire working career. He retired in April of 2014, due to his cancer.

Gary had many hobbies, such as hunting, bird watching, fly fishing, tying flies, rod building, and traveling to many destinations to explore new fishing spots, with Fort Smith, MT becoming a favorite place to travel with friends to fish and relax. He enjoyed duck, pheasant, and deer hunting with his sons and grandsons.

Since retirement, you would see Gary with his favorite companion, Bear, by his side everywhere he went. Gary also loved spending time with any of his 30 grandchildren, visiting on the porch, going places, or just hanging out.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy, of Cokato; children Jeremy (Stacy), Kimberly (Steve) Parks, of Dassel, Karla (Dale) Hoikka, of Cokato, Shanna (Greg) Koivisto of Dassel, Michael (Stephanie) of Cokato, Jason of Brainerd, Jill (Austin) Clarke of Birchwood, WI, Derek of Howard Lake, and Holly of Minnetonka; and 30 grandchildren, Grace Mattila, Joslyn, Russell, Leila, Vince, Tori, Emmett, Natalee, Eddy Parks, Clarke, Juliana, Lewis, Robert, Dakota, Zane and Benjamin Hoikka, Blayne, Abigail, Nicholas, Hans, Jack, Andrew, Ellen, Greta, Clayton Koivisto, Lauren, Erica, Kendra, Mallory Mattila, and Chloe Clarke.

Gary is further survived by his parents, Jerald and Mildred of Dassel; sisters and brothers Phillip (Caroline) of Williston, ND, Susan (Mike) Jurmu of Loretto, Carol (Doug) Wuollet of Cokato, Daniel of Dassel, Barbara (David) Wuollet of Plymouth, Maria Bratt of Becker, John (Rita) of Cokato, Mary (Joe) Lehtola of Buffalo, Nancy (Trevor) Simonson of Saskatchewan, Canada, Linda (John) Parks, Sara (Chuck) Wuollet, Samuel (Annika), and Eric (Juliana) of Cokato; mother-in-law Dorothy Raisanen of Cokato; brothers- and sisters-in-law David (Karen), Mike (Tracey) Raisanen, of Dassel, Keith (Heidi) Raisanen, Mary (Jay) Peipenburg of Cokato, Mark (Jodi) Raisanen of Buffalo, and Katie (Luke) Bonawitz of Richfield; nieces; nephews; godchildren; and many relatives and friends.

Gary was preceded in death by brothers Steven and Robert; and father-in-law Niilo Raisanen.

Funeral services took place Monday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. at Cokato Laestadian Lutheran Church.

Visitation was Sunday, Nov. 16 from 4 to 8 p.m., with 7 p.m. prayer, also at the church; and continued Monday, one hour prior to the services.

Arrangements were by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato; www.swansonpeterson.com.

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