Charles Mattes, 81

June 18, 1930 — Feb. 23, 2012

Charles Millhouse Mattes, 81, of Niles, died at 1:25 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles of natural causes.

He was born on June 18, 1930 in South Bend, Ind., to Herbert Leopold and Marion (Millhouse) Mattes and attended schools in South Bend before graduating from the Todd School for Boys in Woodstock, Ill.  He also attended Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., and Michigan State University, East Lansing. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving a tour of duty and returning as a veteran of the Korean Conflict. He continued in national service throughout the rest of his life as a member of the National Defense Executive Reserve and other temporary assignments.

Mr. Mattes was president of the Mastic Corporation of South Bend, the leading manufacturer of siding and other building materials. He retired in 1989 when Mastic merged with the Alcoa companies.

He was also a past president of the Michiana World Trade Club and several other industry-related organizations. He was also a member of the South Bend Downtown Club of Rotary International.

Charles pursued many interests in his life. As a young man, he was a professional vocalist and has continued to enjoy several styles of music. He was also active in athletics, enjoying amateur boxing and swimming and continued with regular workouts until just recently. He had an interest in automobiles and motorcycles, visiting the four borders of the United States by motorcycle.

He pursued his religious faith through the Presbyterian Church and friendships with other religious leaders, including a longtime associating with Rabbi Rosenstock. Most importantly, his family remembers him as being an excellent father.

On Sept. 8, 1959, in Highland Park, Mich., he married the former Dee Ann Hurt, with whom he celebrated the 52^nd anniversary of the wedding this past year.

He is survived by his wife, Dee Mattes, and by their children, Leslie (and Laurent) Boucher of Mattapoisett, Mass., Michelle (Robert) O’Neil of Andover, Mass., and Mark Millhouse (and Gita) Mattes of New Albany, Ohio; grandchildren, Charlee Ann O’Neil and Haley Marie O’Neil, Darren (Kristen) Boucher and Monique Boucher; and Charles’ sister, Suzanne (and Paul) Coash of Naples, Fla.; step-siblings Michael S. (and Deena) Anderson of Gull Lake, Mich., Barbara Gobel of Paso Robles, Calif.; a step-sister-in-law, Fran Frank of Shelby, Mich.; Dee’s sister, Leah Fisher of West Bloomfield, Mich.; and several nieces and nephews, including Todd, Julie, Patsy, Matthew and Jeni.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by a stepbrother, James Frank, step-brother-in-law, Ronald Gobel, and brother-in-law Phillip Richard Fisher.

The funeral service for Charles M. Mattes will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, at the First Presbyterian Church, Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of the church officiating, assisted by The Rev. Matthew D. Cowden, rector of Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, South Bend. The veteran’s flag presentation and taps will be conducted by the U.S. Marine Corps Honor Guard in the churchyard following the funeral. Interment will be at Highland Cemetery, South Bend privately, at a later date.

The family will receive relatives and friend from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles. Contributions in memory of Charles may be made to Camp Millhouse, 25600 Kelly Rd., South Bend, IN 46614.