Eileen M. Mathwig

Eileen (Niehaus) Mathwig, age 97, of Arlington, MN passed away Monday, June 28, 2021, at the Arlington Good Samaritan Society.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 12th at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Green Isle, MN. Visitation will be 3:00 – 6:00 p.m., Sunday, July 11th, and one hour prior to service time Monday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

Interment will be in the Arlington Public Cemetery.

Eileen was born on March 19, 1924, in Minneapolis, MN and was baptized on May 16, 1924. Eileen was adopted by William and Lena Niehaus of Jessenland Township, MN, where she attended Henderson and Jessenland Sibley County Country schools. Later the family moved to Henderson, MN due to William’s health problems and Eileen graduated from Henderson High School on May 29, 1942. During high school, Eileen worked part-time in the Henderson Drug Store. After graduation, she moved to Minneapolis where she was employed as a cook and server in a diner.

In 1943, Eileen moved to St. Louis, MO, where she also worked as a cook and manager of a diner. She was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on May 9, 1943, at Emmaus Lutheran Church in St. Louis, MO and married Walter Mathwig of Green Isle, MN on November 20, 1943, in the same church. They shared 73 years of married life together at the time of his death in 2017. Eileen worked at Greek Candy Store in Orlando, FL before Walter was deployed, at which time she returned home to Green Isle to await the birth of their first child. Upon Walter’s return from war, the young couple farmed in Jessenland Township, with their 9 children and continued to live there for 69 years. Eileen was a member of the Arlington VFW Ladies Auxiliary and the St. Paul’s Ladies Aid.

Eileen was well-known for her outgoing personality, easy laugh and smile, and joyously managing her large farm family. She enjoyed dancing--especially polka and any opportunity to do the Chicken Dance with her grandchildren, socializing, playing cards, and traveling to various Minnesota casinos as well as Las Vegas--where she would often win big! Many children, grandchildren, and family friends are blessed to have her beautifully embroidered towels and pillowcases, a hobby she enjoyed until her last months.

Eileen was immensely proud of her large family and always had big smiles whenever holding her many great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. She is survived by her children: Joyce (David) Kroells, Wayne Mathwig, Jackie (Darrel) Alsleben, Donald (Pat) Mathwig, Marvin Mathwig, Bill (Carla) Mathwig, Beverly Breyer, and daughter-in-law Nancy Mathwig; 26 grandchildren – Scott (Renae) Janssen, Kris (Jeff) Oien, Ken (Dawn), Kraig (Jean) & Karin Kroells, Lisa (Mike Kotasek) Mathwig, Linda (Jamey) Jeurissen, Lainey (Jeremy) Schwartz, Stacy (Tim) Haggenmiller, Nick (Betsy) Alsleben, Lisa (James) Lewis, Jarrett (Liz) Mathwig, Julie (Dan) Bailey, Heather (Kevin) Hover, Briana (Doug) Kloppen, Jennifer  (Kyle) Shufelt, Zachary, Nathan, Derek, Amber, Jeremy (Jennifer) Mathwig, Jessica (Matt) Olson, Tonia (Milan) Bindas, Troy (Tara) & Matthew (Jolene) Breyer; 51 great grandchildren, 12 great-great grandchildren, sister Marlene Avona, brother-in-law Chester Mathwig, sister-in-law Gladys Mathwig and many nieces and nephews.

Eileen was preceded in death by her parents, husband Walter, sons Darwin and Wesley, grandson Sean Mathwig, daughters-in-law Mary Mathwig & Deb Mathwig, half-brothers Vernon, Bill, and Eugene Sewall, step-siblings Jeanette Hatcher, Bob Sewall, and sibling-in-laws: Lawrence Mathwig, Ordwin Mathwig, Ernst (Dorothy) Mathwig, Manley (Elvera) Mathwig, Elsie Sturm, Gilbert Mathwig, and sister-in-law Betty Mathwig.

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