Eileen R. Elertson, (nee Mathison) age 86, went home to her Lord and Savior, on February 7, 2025, at Shawano Health Services, in the love of her dear family. Mom was born on the Mathison family farm near Lunds, to Delia (Cornelious) Mathison and Almon Mathison on September 18th, 1938.  She grew up part of the Jerusalem Lutheran Church congregation at Lunds, where she was baptized, confirmed, and on November 8, 1958, was married there to the kind young man she had known all her life, Clifford Elertson.

She graduated from Shawano High School with the class of 1956. After graduation she moved to Appleton where she worked at the Aide Association for Lutherans. After her marriage to Cliff, the couple soon moved to the Elertson family farm near Lunds, where they raised their five sons. Many farmers from Shawano County would recognize Mom from the many years she worked at the ASCS office at the Shawano Courthouse from the mid 70's until her retirement in the mid 90's.

Mom and Dad created a home that became the welcoming gathering place for extended family of great aunts and uncles, second and third cousins and many friends for decades of Christmases and other gatherings. Mom and Dad were very active in the Retarded Children's Association. In retirement, Mom spent many years as a hospice volunteer. In their home, alongside Dad, Mom provided foster care to several foster adults with special needs for more than forty years. She and Dad created a partnership in life that actively sought to help others and together they touched and impacted many lives for the better.

She is survived by her sons, Steven (Renee) Elertson of Shawano, Timothy (Brad Parkins) Elertson of Atlanta, Georgia, Rodney (Joyce) Elertson of Shawano, and Aaron Elertson of Shawano.  Eight grandchildren, Tanya Elertson, Paul (Kirstyn Soderstrom) Elertson, Kevin Elertson, Andrew Elertson, Hannah (Ethan Kappers) Elertson, Kassandra (Darren Ermis) Elertson, Victoria (Jason) Patzer and Jacob Elertson; and nine great grandchildren, Faith (Gavin Bougie), Kendra, Hadley, Winnie, Layla, Landon, David, Dartanian and Everleigh; special grandchildren, Miranda, Kirsten and Dayne; brother, Roger (Lorna) Mathison; sister-in law, Shirley Elertson; twelve god children; and several nieces, nephews and cousins, and her very dear (naughty) kitty, Emmie.

She is also survived by special friend, Carol Schmidt, many other dear friends whom she knew since childhood, and from Zion Lutheran Church, from the sweet community of dear supportive friends in her stairwell at her apartment and from Sievers Weaving classes on Washington Island.

She was preceded in death by her best friend and husband of 58 years, Cliff, and special son, Danny Elertson, whom she was told would probably only live two weeks but whom she and Dad very lovingly cared for and nurtured for 15 years until his death in 1979.  Her parents, Almon and Delia Mathison; sister, Margaret (Jim) Sandifer; sister-in-law, Nancy Mathison; special cousin, Lenore Hammond; special friend, Sally Kugel; and in-laws, Harry and Nettie Elertson, Harold and Sarah Elertson, Douglas Elertson, and Dale Elertson and many other very dear friends.

A funeral service for Eileen will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday February 15, 2025, at Zion Lutheran Church with Pastor Scott Ludford officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday February 14, 2025, at Swedberg Funeral Home in Shawano from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm then again on Saturday at the church from 9:30 am until the time of service. Spring burial at Jerusalem Lutheran Cemetery at Lunds. A memorial fund has been established for the Jerusalem Cemetery Association or the Zion Lutheran Church.

The family would like to thank her doctors and the staff at Shawano Health Services for the very compassionate, engaged, and loving care they provided for Mom.

"Well done, My good and faithful servant" Matthew 25:23  You did good, Mom.