Memorial services for Ervin H. Matthies, 94, of Newark, Ohio, formerly of Albert Lea, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 9, 2011, at Salem Lutheran Church. Ervin died Saturday, April 16, 2011, at his home in Ohio. The Rev. Mark Niethammer will officiate, and interment will be at Graceland Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by the area veterans’ organizations. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church. Bonnerup Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

Ervin Henry Matthies was born on July 22, 1916, in Storm Lake, Iowa, the son of Emil and Emma (Nehring) Matthies. He attended parochial and public schools in Iowa and Minneapolis. He moved with his family to Eagle Lake in 1935, after living in Minneapolis for 10 years. In 1941, he was drafted into the Army, and served in the North Pacific (Alaskan) theater. He was discharged in September 1945.

Ervin married Lois Beyer on Nov. 26, 1948, in the Faith Lutheran Church in Walters. They moved to Albert Lea in 1949. He had been an employee of Wilson & Co. for 30 years when he retired in 1979. Ervin was a member of Salem Lutheran Church, where he ushered for many years. He was also a life member of the VFW. Ervin was an enthusiastic hunter and fisherman, especially winter spearing, and was an avid Twins and Vikings fan.

He is survived by his wife, Lois; a daughter Emily and her husband Richard Larson, of Newark, Ohio; grandchildren Erik Larson, of Lakeside Park, Ken.; and Ellen Larson, of Newark, Ohio. He is also survived by niece, Bonnie Ballard, of Walla Walla, Wash.; nephew, Kenneth Borchert, of Duluth; one great niece and three great nephews. Ervin was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Julie Ann, in infancy, and his sisters Elvira Borchert, and Evelyn Matthies.

“Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.” — Revelation 2:10.