Arleen Verla Matta, 91, of Fort Madison, IA, passed away at 6:28 a.m. on Monday, December 26, 2022 at the West Point Care Center. She was born on March 2, 1931 in Menahga, MN to Adam & Esther Lake Kinnunen. She married Clifford Mathew Matta on July 23, 1949 in Menahga, MN. She was a cashier for several years at Greenwald’s and HyVee and was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fort Madison. She was a past president and treasurer of the United Ostomy Association and also a volunteer counselor. She volunteered for the Lee County Democratic Party and loved to teach her grandchildren and extended family how to make Finnish flatbread and cinnamon rolls. She enjoyed playing bridge, sewing, embroidery and crocheting.
Arleen is survived by: 2-daughters: Verla (Chuck) Tanner of Fort Madison, IA & Debra (Mark) Dougherty of Urbandale, IA; 3-grandchildren: Amy (Brian) McCarty of Kirksville, MO, Mathew (Jessica) Tanner of Washington, IL & Nathan (Dr. Rachel) Matta of Waukee, IA; 5-great grandchildren: Haley McCarty, Lauren & Carson Tanner, Mia McCarty & Mariel Matta and 1-brother: Melvin (Ruth) Kinnunen of Menahga, MN. She was preceded in death by: her parents, husband, 1-brother: Ralph Kinnunen & 1-sister: Hazel Sarkela.
Cremation has been entrusted to the care of King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory. A visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 2, 2023 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fort Madison. The memorial service will immediately follow at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Pete Hagglund officiating. Burial will be held at a later date at Meadow Apostolic Cemetery in Menahga, MN. A memorial has been established for St. Paul Lutheran Church. Online condolences to the Matta family may be left at the King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory website: www.kinglynk.com.
