Cecil Paul Mathias

Cecil Paul Mathias, 98, of Tipton died Friday, October 14, 2016, at Cedar Manor. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 10:30 am at the Red Oak Grove Church, Tipton with Rev. Norman Anderson officiating. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 from 4:00 - 7:00 pm at Fry Funeral Home, Tipton. Burial will be in the Red Oak Grove Cemetery. Casket bearers are Matthew Mathias, Andrew Mathias, John Mathias, Mike Knight, Mike Frazer, John Jore, Joe Reilly, Jacob Bohlmann, and Dustin Mason. Honorary casket bearers will be Philip Mathias, Steve Marxen, Bob Rickard, and Bob Wethington. In lieu of flowers, the family asks memorials be made to support the Cedar Manor Expansion Project. Cecil was born May 13, 1918 in rural Cedar County, the son of Opha and Vera (Kinnan) Mathias. He attended school in Springdale, completing the 11th grade. On October 5, 1939 Cecil was united in marriage to Norma Lucille Woode in Davenport. Cecil farmed at various locations in Cedar County before settling in Red Oak Township where he raised crops, livestock, and was a seed corn dealer. He "retired" from farming in 1974 when he and Norma moved to Tipton. There, he served as an insurance adjuster for White Pidgeon Mutual Insurance and served as a bank director for Tipton State Bank. He was a member of the Rotary Club, Moose Lodge, and the Odd Fellows. He was primarily involved in the care of Red Oak Grove Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder until the church's closing. He served on the cemetery board for over 50 years. Later he attended the South Bethel and Rochester Methodist Churches with his dear friend, Freda Chambliss. He enjoyed fishing, camping, car shows, helping on his son's farm, and mostly loved spending time and talking with his family, friends, neighbors, and complete strangers. Cecil is survived by his sons Ronald (Carol), Larry (Sherri), daughter-in-laws Nancy, and Marilyn, grandchildren Michelle (Mike) Knight, Melissa (Mike) Frazer, Melanie (John) Jore, Matthew (Kasia) Mathias, Andrew (Amy) Mathias, John (Joe Reilly) Mathias, Teresa (Jacob) Bohlmann, Megan (Dustin) Mason, and great-grandchildren Ty, Natasha, Sydney, Mackenzie, Madeline, Katherine, Adrian, Kallista, Amelia, Cody, Clayton, Caleb, Callie, Jay, and Lanie, his sister Lorna Paulsen, brother-in-law Larry Hull and many loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Norma, son Randy, dear friend Freda Chambliss, his parents, his brothers Merle, Wayne, and Harry, and his sister Mary Hull.