Donald Leroy Madsen

Donald Leroy Madsen, the son of Floyd Emanuel and Valetta Grace Sorensen Madsen, was born November 15, 1954, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon, Iowa and died July 28, 2010, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 55 years, 8 months, and 13 days.
Don was baptized and confirmed at Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. He attended Audubon Community Schools graduating with the High School Class of 1973. While in High School, Don, participated in wrestling and was a member of the track team. Following High School, Don moved to Wenatchee, Washington and attended college graduating with an Associate Degree in Forestry. He was then employed by the Forest Service where he cleared trails, built and repaired bridges, and repaired barracks. While reshingling a barracks he fell from the roof and broke both wrist. After surgery and a stay in the hospital in Washington he returned home to Audubon to recover. Following his recovery, Don moved to Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin and helped his brother Larry working at a fishing resort running a restaurant and taking care of ten cabins. Don later returned to Washington after learning that his brother, Dennis, had been afflicted with Huntingtons Disease and was having trouble finding work. Don again worked for the Forestry Service until he had to quit his job to care for Dennis. After Denniss health severely deteriorated, Don and Dennis returned to Audubon and Dennis lived at the Friendship Home until he died on December 2, 1998. Don worked for a company spraying weeds around government fixtures across the state for several years and then later worked at Rose Hill Farms near Guthrie Center, Iowa until he retired due to his failing health from Huntingtons Disease. Don resided at his home in Hamlin. Iowa until he was injured in a fall and moved to the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa on June 1, 2010.
Don was a member of Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon. He enjoyed fishing, camping, and especially hiking.
Preceding him in death was his father Floyd E. Madsen, his brother Dennis E. Madsen, and his grandparents.
Survivors include his mother, Valetta and husband Marvin Leroy Jensen of Audubon, Iowa; his brothers, Larry and wife Lisa Madsen of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, Jeff and wife Chelle Madsen of Creston, Iowa; his nieces and nephew, Lindsey Madsen, Jacob Madsen, and Tiffany Madsen all of Des Moines, Iowa, his step-brothers, Jerry and wife Mary Jensen of Atlantic, Iowa, Douglas and wife Susan Jensen of Audubon; step-nieces, step-nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Lincoln Township Cemetery southwest of Gray, Iowa.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends on Friday evening, July 30, 2010, at 6:30 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Larry Lystig on Saturday, July 31, 2010, at 10:30 A.M. at Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa.