Mr. Kenneth John Matern

January 18, 1931 - January 10, 2011

Kenneth John Matern, 79, of North Vernon, passed away on January 10, 2011, at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
Born January 18, 1931, in Jennings County, Kenneth was the son of Paul and Sophia (Hill) Matern. He married Ann Hillen on September 18, 1958, at St. Mary's Catholic Church. She survives. They had 4 children: Linda (Brian) Capes, Allan Matern, Ellen (Kevin) Capes, and Glen Matern.
Mr. Matern attended 8 years at St. Ann School and 2 years at Vernon High School. He left school to work on the family farm. He worked from 1955-1967 for Gegax & Hendricks Construction. In 1967, he went into partnership with Bill Castetter & Matern Construction. He retired in 1995 from construction, but continued working their 100 acre farm.
Kenny was a loving husband and father. He enjoyed watching IU basketball, fishing, gardening, wood working, and spending time with his grandchildren. He especially enjoyed watching his grandchildren play sports, and having coffee with the guys at the Hoosier Street Grill. He had served on the Sandcreek Township Advisory Board, was a member of Knights of Columbus and the Moose Lodge.
He is survived by his wife, 4 children, and 9 grandchildren, including: Nicole Curry, Todd Capes, Dan Capes, Katelyn Capes, Adam Capes, Matt Capes, Mallory Matern, Bridget Matern, Kenny Matern, and 2 great-grandchildren, Sophia and Lily Curry. Also surviving are sisters Alberta (Ralph) Biehle and Delorse (Bill) Wagner.
He was preceded in death by daughters, Margaret, Martha, and Loretta (Lori), grandson Evan Capes, brothers George, Joe, Ray, Richard, and sisters, Esther Matern and Helen Kirchner.

Funeral Information

A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted Friday, January 14, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Ann's Catholic Church, with the Rev. Jonathan Meyer officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Sawyer-Pickett Funeral Home. A rosary service will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be at St. Ann's Cemetery.

Donations Information

Memorials may be made to St. Ann's Church or Leukemia Foundation.