Robert R. “Bob” Mattice Sr.
Robert Ronald “Bob” Mattice Sr., age 85, of Redgranite, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Sunday, July 7, 2024, at Aurora Medical Center in Oshkosh.
He was born October 24, 1938, at his grandparents’, the Davenport farm, on Highway 49 in the Township of Aurora by Davenport School, the son of Henry and Lorena Davenport Mattice. Bob was a 1956 graduate of Wautoma High School and attended an ASI Course for Business & Auto Repair through the VA. He served in the Army National Guard from 1956-1964. On September 8, 1962, he was united in marriage to Wanita Lehr at St. Paul Lutheran Church at Fairburn.
Bob was well known in the surrounding communities as a talented guitarist and lead vocalist for his band, Bob Mattice & the Rainmakers, for over 63 years. Prior to starting his own band, he played and sang for two other bands, Phaetons and Catalinas. When he wasn’t with the band, he stayed busy as owner-operator of Dahlke-Fraser Car Dealership in Poy Sippi. Not only did he have musical abilities, but Bob was a gifted painter, painting signs on semis, trucks, buildings, or anything he was asked to paint on.
In his younger years, Bob was proud to be a flag-bearer for Pres. Kennedy’s visit to Seattle, WA in 1961. He also worked as a Warranty Clerk at Speed Queen in Ripon. Never wanting to be idle, he enjoyed volunteering his time driving the Amish from Wautoma, Kingston and Amhurst to their destinations from 1987-2023. Bob also found time to travel to every state except Maine and Rhode Island. He enjoyed woodworking, cutting wood, making birdhouses, and loved antiques and collectables, especially the auctions held in Wautoma each year. Bob was Town of Warren Clerk for 14 years.
He is survived by his wife, Wanita; four children, Robert Jr. (Amy) Mattice, Mike (Sharon) Mattice, Sherry Mattice (Keith) and Marsha Mattice; five grandchildren, Becky (Derrick) Hubatch, Sgt. Bobby (Jen) Mattice III, Brian (Alyssa) Mattice, Michael Mattice and Crystal Mattice; six great-grandchildren, Charlie, Ava, Bella, Sydney, Bryce and Gwen; and numerous nieces and nephews. Bob was preceded in death by his parents; and 11 siblings, Ruth Quimby, Charles Mattice, Glen Mattice, Harold Mattice, Dorothy McClelland, Bernice Johnson, Peter Mattice, Alfred Mattice, Charlotte Boeck, Shirley Rodgers and Ralph Mattice.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, July 13, at 11:00 a.m., at Barbola Funeral Chapel in Berlin, with Rev. Scott T. Piper officiating. Interment with military honors performed by Wells-Krause VFW Post #2925 will be in Foster Road Cemetery in Redgranite. Visitation will be held on Friday, July 12, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and again on Saturday one hour prior to the service. A memorial has been established. Anyone wishing to send a sympathy card to the family, please mail to Bob Mattice Sr., c/o Barbola Funeral Chapel, PO Box 201, Berlin, WI 54923.
Online condolences may be submitted and sent using the form below. You may also email condolences to the family through "barbolafc@yahoo.com". All condolences are private and sent only to the family.