Erwin F. Matelski Col. USAF Ret.

Erwin F. Matelski Col. USAF, Ret Col. Erwin F. Matelski, 90, USAF Retired, passed peacefully from this world on July 28, 2008. Our beloved father and grandfather was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, May 5, 1918, to Peter and Anna Matelski. Col. Matelski was on active duty with the military for 32 years, starting with the Wisconsin National Guard in 1937 and retiring as a Colonel, USAF, in 1969. During his career, he was assigned to Air Force bases in the US and throughout the world, including Japan, Germany, and Hawaii where he served as the Commander of a Communication Group in Vietnam and as a Communications Inspector General for the Far East. He spent 7 years at the Pentagon with Air Force operations and on the Washington D.C. staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1958-1961. He graduated from the Air War College, the Air Force Command and Staff School and the Army Command and General Staff School. He also studied extensively with the University of Maryland and George Washington University. During his retirement in Austin, Texas, he spent over 20 years as a volunteer with Meals on Wheels, assisted his wife, Julia, with her many art shows and was an active member of University and, more recently, Bethany Methodist Churches. He was very active in Bible Study Fellowship for many years. Erwin was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 57 years, Julia, his parents, and 3 brothers--Harry, Roy and Lorn. He is survived by his 3 children: daughter Janice and husband George Bachman of Pinckney, Michigan; son Dwain and wife Kathy Matelski of Crowley, Texas; daughter Geri and husband Greg Farman of Austin, Texas; 11 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Florence Garbers, 93, of West Salem, Wisconsin. The family will receive friends at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 2, 2008, with funeral services following at 10:00 a.m. at Bethany United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at Austin Memorial Park. Memorial contributions can be made to Bethany United Methodist Church, Hospice Austin or the charity of your choice. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com