Jean Mattson

Jean Aloy Mattson (Blocker) age 77 of New Brighton died peacefully at home after a year-long battle with cancer on June 22, 2012. Jean Aloy Blocker was born in Devils Lake North Dakota May 6, 1935 to Earl and Tena Blocker. She attended Devils Lake High School and graduated in 1953. She was a senior cheerleader. Jean worked with a Devils Law Firm (Trainor) after high school. She moved to Minneapolis with friends in the fifties and worked at Investors Diversified Inc. She met George Mattson along the trail of the Flame Café, the CC TAP and Korsmo's. Jean and George were married at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Minneapolis on April 9, 1960. The honeymoon was in Las Vegas where they saw Betty Grable and Della Reese at the ole wooden El Rancho Vegas Casino. Jean and George built a new home in Fridley at 185 Rivers Edge Way. Three boys were born (Scott, Greg & Jon) in Fridley and baptized at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fridley and later were confirmed at Atonement Lutheran Church in New Brighton. They would all graduate from Irondale High School where they were active in football and hockey. Many family vacations were taken camping in the Rocky Mountains; Yellowstone Park A Bethany Travel Trailer towed by station wagons was the home away from home. After the boys were in school Jean went to work for First Bank-US Bank Trust Department and retired in 1992. Jean and George spent 10 months of March in Sun Lakes Arizona where Jean golfed the desert courses. Jean's golf career began at Brightwood Golf Course and expanded to summer league memberships at Shamrock, Bunker Hills and Anoka Greenhaven. Jean and friends participated in many years of MPGA State Tournaments and golf club invitational's. She was a devoted spectator of her grandchildren's sports & school activities. Jean contracted Lymphoma Stage 4 – Non Hodgkin's Cancer in May of 2011. She endured 6 major Chemo infusions and appeared to cure a mass on her spleen. In April of 2012, the oncologist's review was all clear. On May 23, 2012 an internist visit required an MRI of her head which identified a brain tumor which was untreatable after evaluation at Abbot Northwestern and Unity Hospitals. Heartland Hospice and Nurse Jean Berg provided coverage for jeans trip to heaven which began June 22, 2012.Preceded by parents (Earl and Tina Blocker) & brother James. Survived by husband George & 3 sons – Scott (Wendy), Greg (Lisa), and Jon. 6 Grandchildren Kyle Huberty, Dylan, Catie, Ryan, Peyton & Evan Mattson; cousins Cliff Nelson & Shirley Johnson & nephews Larry, Cameron, & Robert Blocker; niece Barbra Blocker. Service on Friday, June 29th at 11:00 at Atonement Lutheran Church, 1980 Silver Lake Rd, New Brighton with visitation one hour prior. Private internment at Fort Snelling. Memorials to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.