J. Howard Matti, 98, of Pine Island, formerly of West Concord died Saturday, July 20, 2013 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester. He was born May 17, 1915 in Cherry Grove Township, Goodhue County Minnesota the son of Henry and Minnie (Boomgard) Matti. At an early age Howard moved with his family to Dodge County, Concord Township. He attended country school District 12. After that, his family moved a mile East of West Concord and there he attended high school graduating in 1933. In 1934 the family moved to the Kenyon area, where he met Bernice Elaine Parker. They were married September 7, 1939. While living in Kenyon, they were active both in the Methodist Church and the community. In 1957 they moved to the West Concord area where they bought their farm. They attended the Concord Church of Christ, where Howard was a board member and held the office of Elder for 22 years. He served on the Concord Cemetery Board for 32 years, was a member of the Gideon Organization, a farm mediator, a school bus driver for 20 years, President of the Southeast Region Minnesota Federation, President of the Dodge County Senior Citizens, and also President of the West Concord Senior Citizens. In 1981, Howard retired from farming and he and Bernice then moved to West Concord where they lived until 2000. Due to Bernice''s health problems at the end of 2000 they moved to Evergreen Place in Pine Island. He is survived by his daughters Delta (Larry) Maillet of Maple Grove, Rita (Bruce) Goldhammer of Mounds View, and two grandchildren Miles (Angie) Maillet of Beaverton, OR, and Emily Goldhammer of New Brighton. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Bernice in 2003, a son Cary Howard Matti, a daughter Orva Laine, and his sister Viola Jarvis. Visitation will be at Michaelson Funeral Home, West Concord on Wednesday July 24, 2013 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM and at Concord Church of Christ on Thursday from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Funeral services will be held Thursday July 25, 2013 at 2:00 PM at Concord Church of Christ with Reverend Tim Smith, Reverend Gordon Sorenson, Reverend Jim Allard, and Reverend Kevin Kastler officiating. Interment will be in the Concord Cemetery in Concord Township. Memorials are preferred to Concord Church of Christ or the Concord Cemetery. Visitation: 07/24/2013 17:00 07/24/2013 20:00 Service: and one hour prior to the service at the church 07/25/2013 14:00