Roberta Jean Vorhies Mattson, 88, went home to be with Jesus on December 28, 2023 at Parkview Home in Wayland with her family by her side.
Funeral services celebrating her life will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield with Pastor Jason Christensen officiating. Burial will be at Vorhies Cemetery, Lockridge. Visitation will be 4:00 -7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 2nd at the funeral home. Memorials in Roberta’s honor may be made to the Carnegie Historical Museum or Vorhies Cemetery in care of Lori Fry, 2566 Stockport Road, Fairfield, Iowa 52556.
Roberta was born October 31, 1935, the oldest of six children to Sam and Marie (Graf) Vorhies on the family farm east of Four Corners. She attended Victory 8 Country School, Lockridge High School and Parsons College where she received her teaching degree.
She married Paul Mattson, July 23, 1961 at Hope Lutheran Church in Germanville, Iowa. They made their home on a farm about a mile down the road from where she was born. Paul passed away in 1998. She continued to live on that farm until she moved to the Van Vorhies Haus in 2021.
Roberta was a teacher at heart, even to the very end of life. Even though she suffered with Dementia, she could still recall things about teaching. She taught for 30 years, 3 in Galesburg, Illinois and 27 at Lockridge Elementary School. After retiring in 2001, she still continued to mentor students and be involved in lives of many.
Roberta stayed active in her church, New Sweden Methodist, Retired Teachers and PEO Chapter OO. She even made it in to the gym twice a week. Roberta loved to sew, making hundreds of school bags and hospital gowns. She always enjoyed time with her siblings and their families, mission trips, following her grand children’s activities and watching her great grandchildren play.
Roberta is survived by her children, Lori (Greg) Fry of Fairfield, and Craig (Becky) Mattson of Lockridge; grandchildren, Danielle (Brady) Hill, Brittney (Matt) Tiller, Colton Fry (Mackenzie Harwood), Dillon (Nikia) Fry, Gunnar Mattson and Sam Mattson; great-grandchildren, Adelynn, Lora and Eden Hill, Malachi, Emerson and Quinn Tiller, and Abel Fry; siblings, Stanley (Mary) Vorhies of Dallas City, Illinois, Lea
Bradley of Mt. Pleasant, Thelma (Max) Smiddy of Macomb, Illinois, Juanita (Bill) Griest, and Karen Milks, all of Mt. Pleasant; and many nieces, nephew, and great-nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, she was proceeded in death by her parents; brothers-in-law, Phil Zihlman, Larry Milks, Jerry Bradley, Sidney Mattson and Wade Hill; and sisters-in-law, Irene Hill and Mary Mattson.
Roberta’s family wishes to express their sincere appreciation for the wonderful care she received while at the Van Vorhies Haus and the Parkview Home.
