Donald Madsen

Donald Edwin Madsen, 88, of Staples, MN passed away, Thursday, May 26, 2016 at Lakewood Health System Care Center in Staples. Services for Donald will be 2:00PM, May 30, 2016 at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Staples with Pastor Steve Berntson officiating. Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation from 5:00-7:00PM, Sunday May 29, 2016 at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Staples and one hour prior to services on Monday. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Brainerd, MN.

Donald was born on October 24, 1927 in Moose Lake, MN to Edwin and Alice (Andersen) Madsen. He served his country in the US Army Transportation Corps. Donald was united in marriage to Norma Gangarossa in 1950. He worked in Brainerd for Burlington Northern Railroad, and then at Potlatch Paper Corp. as Operation Manager. After he retired from Potlatch, he and Norma spent 20 years in Tucson, AZ at the Voyager RV Resort. They then moved to Fargo, ND and eventually to the Staples area. Donald was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Brainerd, MN; serving in various leadership capacities. He also enjoyed golfing, playing cards, and square dancing. Donald was a Director of the North Countrymen Barbershop Chorus, involved in Community Theater, and was a leader in Indian Guides and Cub Scouts when his boys were little.

Donald is survived by his wife, Norma; children, Cathy (Rod) Veith of Pillager, MN, Mike (Deb) Madsen of Clovis, New Mexico, Mary (Steve) Berntson of Jamestown, ND, Curt Madsen of Brainerd, MN, Chris Madsen of Fargo, ND; 13 grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Alice; two siblings, Rodney and Grace; and an infant son, Douglas Edwin. Family prefers memorials be made to Institute for Logopedics in Witchita, KS or the Alzheimer's Association. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel in Staples, MN.