Donald J. Madsen passed away on January 6, 2025 with his family by his side and his beloved dog Maggie on his lap; just the way he wished. Don was born July 11, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois; one of 4 sons to Clarence and Loretta (Wright) Madsen.
After graduating high school, Don attended Washburn University and then the University of Kansas, earning his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Social Work. He then married Karen Pederson on July 20, 1962 in St. Joseph, Missouri. Don liked to tell people that they met at the State Mental hospital in St. Joseph, MO while he and Karen (nursing) were completing their psychiatric rotations for their degrees.
Shortly after the Topeka tornado of 1962 destroyed their house, he and Karen relocated to Hiawatha where he began his career working for the Brown County Welfare Department. They welcomed a son, Erik, who was born in 1968. Don ultimately worked for the State of Kansas for over 34 years, retiring in 2002, when he became a grandfather. Don and Karen had a long, wonderful marriage that very few people experience. They had been married for 52 years when Karen died in 2014.
Golf was an important part of Don’s life, having been a member of the Hiawatha Country Club for over 50 years. He made many lifelong friends through golf. In addition, he spent numerous years as an assistant coach for the Hiawatha High School golf team. Some of his favorite memories were watching students go from, “not knowing which end of the club to hold,” to being able to at least hit the ball in the general direction they were aiming.
In addition to enjoying vacations with Karen, Don also enjoyed trips to attend PGA golf tournaments, the ultimate being his three trips to the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, GA.
Always a sports fanatic, Don enjoyed many hours watching KU basketball or any event on the Golf Channel. However, his favorite activity was watching his son, and later his grandchildren, participate in various sporting activities. He could be seen at nearly every game cheering on his favorite players (who all happened to have the last name of Madsen).
Don had a lifelong passion for helping the elderly or those less fortunate. This included giving various people rides to work, painting houses, and mowing lawns.
Don is survived by his son Erik (Trish) Madsen of Hiawatha and three grandchildren, Kate, Sarah, and Alex, all of Hiawatha. Also surviving is his brother Ken Madsen of St. Joseph, MO. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Karen, and brothers Bob Madsen and Fred Madsen.
Services are planned for 11 a.m. Friday, January 10, 2025, at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, Hiawatha, with Father Ben Rynearson. Interment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Hiawatha.
Friends may call at the funeral home after 10 a.m. Thursday where the family will meet from 6:30 until 8 that evening.
