Clarence Matejka Sr.

Clarence Harry Matejka Sr., age 101, passed away on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 at the Frazee Care Center where he had been a resident for the past three years.

Clarence was born on June 7, 1920 in rural Donnelly, MN to Loddie and Lena (Smith) Matejka. He attended school through the eighth grade at which time he started working for area farmers. Before long he was driving truck and delivering grain for them.

Clarence was a WW II Veteran having joined the Army in 1941. He started out training recruits in Texas and served in Burma. He was discharged in 1946.

After the service, Clarence continued driving truck for several years, owning his own trucks. He met Emilie Van Dyke on a blind date, and they were married on May 17, 1949. They lived in Donnelly for a short time before purchasing a farm in rural Herman, MN where they lived until 1968 when they moved to rural Frazee, MN. Clarence farmed and worked for Jim Griffnow. In 1978, they sold the farm and moved to their dream home on Dead Lake, Richville, MN.

Not being one to sit still for long, Clarence got a job at RDO in Perham and then later for the International dealership in Perham where he worked until 1992 when cancer caused him to stop working. Cancer may have caused him to slow down but, it didn’t stop him. He loved gardening and fishing, and many enjoyed the bounties of his garden.

Clarence is survived by his children Curtis (Rhonda) of Perham, Diane (Craig) Lund of Richville, Christine (Michael) Roforth of Ottertail, Eunice (Tom) Davis of Rochert, Chip (Donna) of Nampa, ID, and Velma (Dean) Dopson of Norco, CA; daughter-in-law Birdie Matejka of Richville; siblings Luella Kopel, Betty Pemble, Wayne Matejka, Winnefred Standfield and Vernon Matejka; grandchildren Sandra Cassidy, Matthew Roforth, Nathan Matejka, Erin Davis, Jennifer Beaulieu, Emily Beaulieu, Timothy Matejka, Michelle Nugent, Dawn Matejka, DarylAnn Matejka, and Prairie Matejka; eleven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Clarence was preceded in death by his wife Emilie in 2014; son John; grandson Peter Beaulieu; great-granddaughter Jovey Ruther; and siblings Bernice Winter, Lillian Pariseau, Roy Matejka, Jeanette Michelson, Evelyn Kopel, Bonnie Robinson, and Glen Matejka.

Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:30 on Saturday, July 10 at Schoeneberger Funeral & Cremation Service in Perham. Interment will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Little Falls, MN on August 18, 2021

Schoeneberger Funeral & Cremation Service, Perham, MN (218) 346-5175 www.schoenebergerfh.com