Milo Odine Mathison of Rochester, Minn., age 75, died on Thursday, July 25, 2019, at The Patty Elwood Center in Cresco, Iowa, from complications of Alzheimer’s.
Memorial services for Milo will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, July 29, 2019, at Stewartville United Methodist Church in Stewartville, Minn., with the Reverend Mark Rader officiating. Visitiation was Sunday, July 28, 2019 from 4-7 p.m. at Hindt Funeral Home in Spring Valley and one hour prior to the service on Monday at the church.
Milo was born in Cresco, Iowa, son of Milton and Ruby (Dotzenrod) Mathison, on February 7, 1944. He attended country school for eight years and graduated from high school in 1962 in Spring Valley.
Milo worked on the farm starting at an early age and continued through adulthood near Cherry Grove area until 1990. In 1963, He met and married the love of his life, Trudy Kerns. Together, they raised their three girls.
Milo was active in his community and served eight years on the Spring Valley School Board, and chairman for four years. He also served in positions at the Cherry Grove United Methodist Church as a lay leader and speaker. Milo also was very active in the church bowling league. He later become part of the Gopher State Garden Tractor Pulling Club and built the Silver Shadow. Milo was an avid welder, which took him to his job at Crenlo as a welder. He later moved to installing glass in Caterpillar equipment, which lead to his obsession of his toy tractor collection.
Milo was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Milton and Ruby Mathison, and sisters Sharon and Charlotte Harnack.
He is survived by his wife Trudy, brother Dwight Mathison, and brother-in-law Steven Harnack; children Tracy (Darin) Bicknese, Lisa (Kevin) Sikkink, and Darcy Siem, all of Rochester; surviving grandchildren: Luke (Tamara) Bicknese, Christopher (Erin) Bicknese, Tyler (Courtney) Bicknese, Aaron Timm, Danielle (Dillan) Dohrn, and Dylan Siem; great-grandchildren Aubrey, Matthew, Adam, Abigail, and Clara; nieces and nephews Bart (Amy) Harnack, Tammy Harnack, Krystal (Justin) Koball; and extended special family members Terry Timm and Danny Siem.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations to be made to the Patty Elwood Center, 21668 80th Street, Cresco, Iowa 52136; Mayo Clinic for Alzheimer’s research, or charity of their choice.