Obituary for Marvin Madsen
Marvin Lorne Madsen, age 92 passed from this earth into Heaven’s Glory 8/15/2020.
Marvin was born June 21, 1928 in Clear Lake, Wisconsin to Lawrence and Clara Ella (Palmer) Madsen.
He had 3 older sisters who preceded him in death, Myrtle (Joe) Looby, Marjorie (Leonard) Peterson, and
Melva (David) Foster. Marvin’s parents were farmers, using horses for working the land. Marvin helped his
dad in his growing up years on the farm. His dad played a violin, one sister had a guitar, but told Marvin not to
touch it. He had a desire to play, so he did anyway and taught himself to play chords! This began his love of
playing the guitar and his sister had to admit he had a gift. They often played and sang hymns together.
During Marvin’s teen years the family moved to Manitowoc, Wisconsin where his dad found work in
the shipyards, as there was always work during the war. Marvin graduated high school in Manitowoc, worked
at different jobs, and then decided to go to college. After 2 years of college, he was drafted into the Army,
became a tank mechanic stationed in Texas. During this time he courted Carol Anthold, a young lady from
their church in Manitowoc. They set a date of May 17, 1952 to be married, only to received orders to ship
overseas to Japan with just 6 months left to serve in the Army. They decided to still go through with the
wedding, so after 30 days married, off he went to Japan. When he returned home, their first child was on the
way. Russell was born March 1, 1953.
Marvin now out of the Army with a wife and young son decided to finish up his college bachelor’s
degree at Stout State in Menomonie, Wisconsin. He graduated with a job offer in hand to teach high school at
a small, start-up school in Germantown, WI. While at college, Ronald was born in May of 1955, and Cindy in
May of 1956. The family moved to Germantown where Marvin was instrumental in setting up the Industrial
Arts department. He taught school there from 1957 until 1977.
In 1958 Marvin had an opportunity to get an A&W franchise. Thinking that this may be a venue to
generate more needed income for their growing family he found land and built a drive in. It did supplement
their needs, but the added burden to family, teaching and church life became unsustainable. Steve was born
into the family July of 1958, and Jeff October of 1960. In 1960 Marvin sold the A&W drive in. In 1962 they
experienced the loss of their 6 th child, stillborn at full term.
In 1963, they were able to buy a very aged log cabin-built farmhouse on 40 acres in Menomonee Falls,
Wisconsin. Marvin saw this as an opportunity to bring up his family the way he was brought up, and to
supplement their income through raising animals and crops. The whole family was involved with chores and
helping. This was their life until 1976, when a friend introduced an opportunity to sell generators.
In 1977 Marvin obtained his own territory to sell generators, and Eastern Wisconsin Winpower came to
be. He quit his teaching job, and never looked back. His primary sales were to farmers, but business
expanded with adding employees, and even building generators that were shipped to the Dominican Republic.
During the 1990’s, Marvin and Carol were in their retirement years, business was going well, and they
were able to snowbird to Mesa, Arizona. They were excited to reconnect with Pastor Roger Williams family,
who had been their pastor years earlier in Menomonee Falls. After several years snow birding in a camper, in
2000 they purchased a home in Mesa. Their stay in Mesa became longer each year, with less time spent in
Wisconsin. They put the farm up for sale, and in 2003 it finally sold. They moved, “Lock, Stock and Barrel” to
Mesa. Now that they were full time established in Mesa, they were able to be full members at Calvary Baptist
church, and quickly were busy in ministry in Junior Church, special music, teaching, Awana helpers, deacon
board, building committee and camp development.
In 2006, after 53 years of marriage, Carol went to be with the Lord. Marvin was a widower for 5 years,
but was very lonely and desired companionship. Into his life entered Marcia Brady, a widow who attended
Calvary Baptist Church. After dating a few months, they were married on October 15, 2011. Marvin was 83
years old! That void in his life was filled, but as he was in his golden years already, no one knows how much
time God will give us.
After he turned 90 it was pretty evident he was slowing down, and the body was getting tired. He had
several hospital stays the last 2 years, and was told it was just a matter of time. He was able to visit Wisconsin
in July of 2019 for a Madsen family reunion, which was the last time he was with his grandchildren and great
grandchildren on the Madsen side of the family.
Marvin is survived by his 5 children: Russell & Christine Madsen, Ronald Madsen, Cindy & Duane
Brewington, Steven Madsen, and Jeffrey & Sandra Madsen. He is survived by 11 grandchildren and 27 great
grandchildren.
Marvin is also survived by his wife Marcia Madsen, and her children Scott & Paula Brady,
Michael & Shelly Brady, Lisa & Rodney Stoltz, as well as 3 grandchildren.
After 2 weeks in hospice care, Marvin stepped on heavens shore. He loved and served the Lord with all
his heart his whole life, so we can’t begin to imagine the joy he is experiencing right now in the presence of his
Lord, and all those who have gone on before.
He fought the good fight, he finished the course. Well done, thou good and faithful servant.
Enter into the joy of your Lord. He will be missed by many.
Marvin was born June 21, 1928 in Clear Lake, Wisconsin to Lawrence and Clara Ella (Palmer) Madsen.
He had 3 older sisters who preceded him in death, Myrtle (Joe) Looby, Marjorie (Leonard) Peterson, and
Melva (David) Foster. Marvin’s parents were farmers, using horses for working the land. Marvin helped his
dad in his growing up years on the farm. His dad played a violin, one sister had a guitar, but told Marvin not to
touch it. He had a desire to play, so he did anyway and taught himself to play chords! This began his love of
playing the guitar and his sister had to admit he had a gift. They often played and sang hymns together.
During Marvin’s teen years the family moved to Manitowoc, Wisconsin where his dad found work in
the shipyards, as there was always work during the war. Marvin graduated high school in Manitowoc, worked
at different jobs, and then decided to go to college. After 2 years of college, he was drafted into the Army,
became a tank mechanic stationed in Texas. During this time he courted Carol Anthold, a young lady from
their church in Manitowoc. They set a date of May 17, 1952 to be married, only to received orders to ship
overseas to Japan with just 6 months left to serve in the Army. They decided to still go through with the
wedding, so after 30 days married, off he went to Japan. When he returned home, their first child was on the
way. Russell was born March 1, 1953.
Marvin now out of the Army with a wife and young son decided to finish up his college bachelor’s
degree at Stout State in Menomonie, Wisconsin. He graduated with a job offer in hand to teach high school at
a small, start-up school in Germantown, WI. While at college, Ronald was born in May of 1955, and Cindy in
May of 1956. The family moved to Germantown where Marvin was instrumental in setting up the Industrial
Arts department. He taught school there from 1957 until 1977.
In 1958 Marvin had an opportunity to get an A&W franchise. Thinking that this may be a venue to
generate more needed income for their growing family he found land and built a drive in. It did supplement
their needs, but the added burden to family, teaching and church life became unsustainable. Steve was born
into the family July of 1958, and Jeff October of 1960. In 1960 Marvin sold the A&W drive in. In 1962 they
experienced the loss of their 6 th child, stillborn at full term.
In 1963, they were able to buy a very aged log cabin-built farmhouse on 40 acres in Menomonee Falls,
Wisconsin. Marvin saw this as an opportunity to bring up his family the way he was brought up, and to
supplement their income through raising animals and crops. The whole family was involved with chores and
helping. This was their life until 1976, when a friend introduced an opportunity to sell generators.
In 1977 Marvin obtained his own territory to sell generators, and Eastern Wisconsin Winpower came to
be. He quit his teaching job, and never looked back. His primary sales were to farmers, but business
expanded with adding employees, and even building generators that were shipped to the Dominican Republic.
During the 1990’s, Marvin and Carol were in their retirement years, business was going well, and they
were able to snowbird to Mesa, Arizona. They were excited to reconnect with Pastor Roger Williams family,
who had been their pastor years earlier in Menomonee Falls. After several years snow birding in a camper, in
2000 they purchased a home in Mesa. Their stay in Mesa became longer each year, with less time spent in
Wisconsin. They put the farm up for sale, and in 2003 it finally sold. They moved, “Lock, Stock and Barrel” to
Mesa. Now that they were full time established in Mesa, they were able to be full members at Calvary Baptist
church, and quickly were busy in ministry in Junior Church, special music, teaching, Awana helpers, deacon
board, building committee and camp development.
In 2006, after 53 years of marriage, Carol went to be with the Lord. Marvin was a widower for 5 years,
but was very lonely and desired companionship. Into his life entered Marcia Brady, a widow who attended
Calvary Baptist Church. After dating a few months, they were married on October 15, 2011. Marvin was 83
years old! That void in his life was filled, but as he was in his golden years already, no one knows how much
time God will give us.
After he turned 90 it was pretty evident he was slowing down, and the body was getting tired. He had
several hospital stays the last 2 years, and was told it was just a matter of time. He was able to visit Wisconsin
in July of 2019 for a Madsen family reunion, which was the last time he was with his grandchildren and great
grandchildren on the Madsen side of the family.
Marvin is survived by his 5 children: Russell & Christine Madsen, Ronald Madsen, Cindy & Duane
Brewington, Steven Madsen, and Jeffrey & Sandra Madsen. He is survived by 11 grandchildren and 27 great
grandchildren.
Marvin is also survived by his wife Marcia Madsen, and her children Scott & Paula Brady,
Michael & Shelly Brady, Lisa & Rodney Stoltz, as well as 3 grandchildren.
After 2 weeks in hospice care, Marvin stepped on heavens shore. He loved and served the Lord with all
his heart his whole life, so we can’t begin to imagine the joy he is experiencing right now in the presence of his
Lord, and all those who have gone on before.
He fought the good fight, he finished the course. Well done, thou good and faithful servant.
Enter into the joy of your Lord. He will be missed by many.