Lawrence Wesley Matteson, Former Owner, L.W. Matteson Inc.

Lawrence Wesley Matteson, 93, of Davenport, Iowa, passed away on October 18.

Matteson worked at First Mississippi as a crane operator maintaining fertilizer containment ponds prior to beginning a successful career in marine construction and dredging in 1975.

In 1985, he purchased the P&D Harbor Service in Burlington, Iowa, and in 1996 he purchased the R&R harbor service of Oquawka, Illinois.

He formed L. W. Matteson Inc., a maintenance and environmental dredging and levee construction company in Burlington, Iowa, and soon developed a reputation as an innovator. L. W. Matteson had one of the largest fleets of specialized portable dredging and earthmoving equipment on the inland river system. He built several large highway fills in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin.

Matteson was a recipient of the Wisconsin builder’s special achievement award. With expertise in dredging, marine construction, environmental and habitat restoration, the company became a highly respected contractor serving the upper Midwest and the Mississippi river system. In December 2010, the company was sold to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation.

Matteson used the proceeds from the sale of his company to fund scholarships for hundreds of southeast Iowa students and working adults at Southeastern Community College. He also has contributed to many other charities over the past decades, including Unity Point Trinity Health System, Mayo Clinic where he was recognized as a Philanthropic Partner, and Bethany for Children & Families in Moline. He lived by the motto of “experience the joy of giving while living.”

Funeral services were October 23 at First Covenant Church in Moline.

Survivors include his loving wife of 40 years, Marilyn; son, Larry (Mary Lee) Matteson of Burlington, Iowa, and daughter, Diane (John) Meister, Columbia City, Ind.; sister-in-law, Ruth Matteson and step son-in-law, Craig Stitt; and seven grandchildren.