Barbara Jane Madsen

Barbara Jane Madsen, the daughter of Ralph and Vera (Paridon) Trachsel, was born July 20, 1931, in Moline, Illinois and died August 16, 2018, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 87 years and 26 days.

Barbara was baptized and confirmed at the Methodist Church. She attended rural Audubon County Schools then graduated from the Audubon High School with the Class of 1949. Barbara then helped at home and also helped other families.

On June 8, 1950, she was united in marriage to Robert Edward Madsen at the Methodist Church in Audubon, Iowa. They were blessed with two children Wayne and Sherry. They farmed near Sharon then moved east of Hamlin, Iowa and operated a farm for six years. In 1957 they moved to a farm north of Audubon where they grew row crops and raised livestock. Barbara was a home maker for many years raising their family and growing and canning the produce from the large vegetable garden she always had. In 1961 they started selling NIMROD travel trailers and later became distributors for PAX livestock feeding equipment and Barbara was the book keeper for the businesses. They operated the business for many years until they retired. Robert died April 29, 1998. Barbara lived in their home for several years then moved to the Friendship Village in Audubon before moving to the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa.

Barbara was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Audubon, Iowa. She was a member of the neighborhood club the “Busy Bees”. Barbara and Robert were charter members of the Audubon County Travelers and were members of GMC, the Great Midwest Classic Motorhome Club. She loved her pets, shopping for AVON, and growing and canning the produce from her garden. Barbara loved camping especially in Colorado and Wyoming. But most of all she loved spending time with her family especially babysitting for her grandchildren.

Preceding her in death was her husband Robert E. Madsen; her son Wayne Madsen; her son-in-law James “Buz” Cavanaugh; her parents; her brothers Roger Trachsel and Richard Trachsel; her brothers-in-law Edwin Madsen and Alton Olsen; her sisters-in-law Ardith Lauridsen and May Olsen; her niece Janice Spooner and her nephew Leroy Madsen.

Survivors include her daughter Sherry Madsen of Hamlin, Iowa; her daughter-in-law Barbara A. Madsen of Audubon, Iowa; her grandchildren Wendi Madsen and Robin Madsen both of Waukee, Iowa and Christy and husband Jason Eischeid of Ames, Iowa; her great grandson Caleb James Eischeid of Ames, Iowa; her sister-in-law Lana and husband Dean Downing of Carroll, Iowa, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Gathering will be held Saturday, August 25, 2018, from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. where friends can visit with the family and share their stories, experiences, and pleasant memories they had with Barbara at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. A private family inurnment will be at a later time.