Norman Madsen (1929-2018)

On the 20th of May 2018, Norman Marquette Madsen, “Papaw,” “Stormy Norm,” passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family after a long, courageous battle.

Norman was born in Highland Park, Illinois, at 5:28 p.m. on June 19, 1929. He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew Madsen, Alpha (Frank) Jagielski, brother, Schubert Madsen and sister, Joanie Lannoy.

Norman joined the army in 1953 and served in the Korean War. He had a great love for trains and was employed by the North Shore Railway as an Engineer. He was also a motion picture projectionist for over 50 years and a member of the Chicago Motion Picture Union, Local 110. Because of this association, he helped build the soundstage for the film, Ordinary People. He achieved his GED, high school equivalency certificate, in March 2009 at the age of 80. He was also a talented artist, often creating sketches and paintings of his children.

Our father is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, the love of his life, Virdia (Betty), his children, Patricia Ann Hood, Annette Suzanne (Robert) Eckert, David Norman (Norma) Madsen, Ricky Allan (Lynn) Madsen, and Wendi Hood-Madsen, six wonderful grandchildren, Mark, Joseph, Shane, Samantha, Sean, and Brandon, and great grandson, Nolan.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday May 24th, 2018 at 2:00 PM at Journey Church in BEACH PARK Illinois at 12735-W. Graves Avenue. (travel south on Green Bay Road to Illinois, and it is just past Wadsworth Road on the left.) Visitation with the family will be on Thursday at the church from 12:30PM until the time of services. Burial will take place on Friday at 9:00AM at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

The family would like to extend our greatest appreciation to the Aurora Hospice Department, wonderful nurses and emergency staff at Aurora Hospital (Kenosha), therapists and nurses of Aurora at Home, numerous EMTs, and Dr. Gregory Rocco and his staff for their loving care and support.

Also a heartfelt thank you to Pastor Dan of Journey Church for his pastoral care and ministering to Papaw during his illness as well as being with our family before his final hours.