Norman C. Mathewson

Norman C. Mathewson, age 86, passed away at his home in Appleton, WI on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.    

Norm was born to Donald C. Mathewson and Sophie Mae (nee Borowick) Mathewson on December 9, 1937 in Owen, WI where he grew up and enjoyed a fun, small town life with his sisters Mardi and Gail, along with parents and grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.  

His younger years were spent fishing, hunting and trapping with his father and grandfather and high school was filled with marching band, and playing basketball, baseball and football. He graduated from Owen High School in 1955.  

The next chapter in life included marriage, family and work life which started in 1958 when he wed his high school sweetheart, Justine Kaplia, from the next town over, Withee WI. Together they had a son and 3 daughters, and like his father and grandfather before him, he made sure all his kids went to Mass on Sundays, knew how to change a tire, properly tie a hook when fishing, pluck a Canada goose, bake a blackberry pie and shoot a pistol, rifle or shotgun. 

His career in lending and finance started early and his work took the family to Colorado, California and back to settle in Greenville, WI in 1967.  His work brought him 2 lifelong friends and hunting partners, John (Black Snake) Golden and Denny (The Load) Leo, who both played starring roles in many of Norman's life stories. He eventually opened his own equipment leasing company, TLC of Wisconsin in the early 1980s and remained involved after retirement until the company closed in 2009. 

Norm would be the first to tell you he had a great life and did just about everything he wanted. He got his pilot's license in his early 20s, was a charter member and first president of the Greenville Lions Club and a member of St Bernard Catholic Parish in Appleton for over 50 years.  

He was an avid hunter, fisher lover of hunting dogs - especially labrador retrievers, and a true-blue Cubs fan. Known for his joking and love of laughter, he had a quick wit and a penchant for teasing just about anyone who crossed his path - waitresses, children, and each and every family member. He was the guy who talked at length with the person standing in line behind him at a check-out counter. He was a very good cook, had great taste in scotch and red wine and could be incredibly charming and chivalrous. Most of all, he was a storyteller who "never let the truth get in the way of a good story" and left us with many little nuggets of wisdom and B.S. that we lovingly refer to as "Normanisms". 

He was also a lucky man, finding love a second time when he met his beloved Nancy Jean Melin (nee Gannon) and married her in December 1995. Norm and Nancy embarked on many adventures, making many great memories together. They traveled all across the U.S., built a beautiful home along with their black lab, Misty, on a wooded hill in Shiocton. They witnessed the marriages of their respective children and together welcomed grandchildren and great grandchildren into the world. They moved to Rio Rico AZ and built another beautiful home with their yellow labrador, Kelly. There they made many new friends and enjoyed having them over for cocktails and conversation on the back patio, surrounded by the hummingbirds and the beautiful gardens Nancy created. They enjoyed volunteering together at the local mission and exploring the towns around them until fate brought them back to the Fox River Valley.  

Eventually, as a team, Norm and Nancy settled into their retirement community at Primrose Retirment Community in Appleton, making new friends once again. Norman enjoyed teasing the caregivers and he had an ongoing friendly rivalry with the chef, Chip, a Milwaukee Brewers fan. In the end, Norman thought Primrose was a pretty good final stop on life's train, and he, along with Nancy, very much appreciated the care shown by every single person there.  

Norman is survived by his wife, Nancy; his daughters, Diana Mathewson of Appleton, WI, Michelle (John) Mathewson-Murphy of Appleton, WI and their sons, Ian (Autumn) Murphy of New London, WI and children Carter, Liam, Callen, Callie; Gareth (fiancée Anastasia Jacobs) Murphy of Appleton, WI, and Reyne M. (Timothy) Stultz of Ennis, MT; his stepson, Jeff Melin of Kaukauna, WI and his daughters, Madison and Montana; his stepdaughter, Stacy (Scott) Schuette of Appleton, WI and their children, David (Keri) Schuette, Chandler (Jake) Quinnell, and Jerrett Schuette, all of Appleton, WI; and his sister, Gail Gagne and her daughter, Traci Raymond, both of Neenah, WI.  He is further survived by his former daughter-in-law, Sheila Burr and her children, Josh Siewert, Trisha Mathewson with son Elijah, and Jenny (Zach) Kuether with their kids, Kelsey and Avianna, Steve's son, Justin Mathewson (mother Sharon Garcia) of Menasha, WI, and godson, Greg Golden of Merrill, WI.

Along with his parents Donald and Sophie Mathewson, he is predeceased by his son, Steven Mathewson; his sister, Mardelle Mathewson; and mother of his children, Justine Mathewson. 

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 3pm. Friends and family will be received from 1pm until the time of service at Wichmann Funeral Home, 537 N Superior St, Appleton, WI 54911.  In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Fox Valley Humane Association or to the Salvation Army in honor of Norm.  

From Norm's family: a heartfelt thanks go out to all the loving caretakers within the Primrose Retirement Community, the compassionate team at Moments Hospice, Dr. Winkel, and the 3rd floor nurses at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Appleton, WI.