Marjorie Ann Madsen, 95, of Cherokee passed away peacefully on Monday, May 18, 2026, in Omaha, Neb.
Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, May 22, at 10:30 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cherokee. Father Dan Rupp will officiate. There will be a rosary by the Catholic Daughters at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery at Cherokee. Visitation with the family present will take place an hour prior to the service beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the church. Boothby Funeral Home of Cherokee is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com.
Marjorie Ann (Marge) Madsen, the daughter of Carl and Madeline (Koewler) Lenz was born Aug. 31, 1930, in Early the second of 10 children. She spent her childhood on a farm near Early and graduated from Early Consolidated School in 1949. In her younger days she babysat for neighbors, loved to skate and played basketball for the Early Cardinals. After graduation Marge was employed by Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in both Storm Lake and Spencer for seven years.
In 1956, Marge was united in marriage to Gerald (Jerry) Madsen at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sioux Rapids. She and Jerry lived on a farm near Rembrandt and later near Aurelia. Marge was a stay-at-home mom, gardening, cooking, sewing, knitting, helping on the farm and raising seven children. She canned anything and everything she could get her hands on for her family. Marge was a wonderful cook and everything was homemade. Anyone who stopped in for a visit was treated to delicious bread, cake and homemade ice cream. Marge was always willing to lend a hand and could feed an army for lunch when the need arose.
Marge and Jerry moved to Cherokee in 1983, where she started her own cleaning business until she retired in 2009. While in Cherokee, with the help of her son, Roger, and some of her grandchildren, Marge tended a beautiful flower garden and a pond complete with fish. Marge's garden was included in a tour of gardens, where many visitors returned to enjoy its beauty.
In 2011, Marge moved to Omaha, Neb., where she continued to bake bread, which she graciously shared with many family members.
Marge was a giver. She belonged to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cherokee where she volunteered as a Communion Minister and Lector at Mass, leader of the Rosary and was a member of Catholic Daughters of America. Her faith was her life.
Marge is survived by her children: Kenneth (Lisa) Madsen, Karen (Scott) Monical, Kathy (Will) Holts; John; Roger; and Angela (J.C.) Gaukel; 14 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren; sisters: Bonnie Madsen, Janice Wiemers, Sylvia Lenz, Betty Jo (Rick) Ellis; brother Don Lenz; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Marge is preceded in death by her husband Jerry Madsen; son Steve; parents, Carl and Madeline Lenz; father and mother-in-law, Edwin and Marie Madsen; sisters and brother-in-law, Rose Marie (Ray) Kirby and Patricia (Joe) Graff; sister Marlene Lenz; brother and sister-in-law, William and Margaret Lenz; and brothers-in-law, Ed Madsen and Harold Wiemers.
