Shirley Madsen, 98, of Charles City, passed away Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at the Good Shepherd Health Center in Mason City.
A funeral service for Shirley will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 31, 2024, at Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home in Charles City with Reverend Jerry Glass with MercyOne North Iowa Hospice officiating. Burial will follow at Sunnyside Memory Gardens in rural Charles City.
Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until the start of the service at the funeral home on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Good Shepherd Health Center or to the Lupus Foundation.
Shirley LaVonne (Sutton) Madsen, the daughter of Earl and Minnie Catherine (Lau) Sutton, was born on March 28, 1926, in Nora Springs, Iowa. She graduated from Nora Springs High School in 1944. On May 29, 1948, Shirley was united in marriage to Wesley Madsen in Charles City.
After high school, Shirley worked as a secretary at the Kaiser Shipyards in San Francisco, California. She then moved back to Iowa and worked as a secretary for Salsbury Laboratories and Dr. Vonberg’s dental office, and later sold clothes at Cinderella Clothing Store. Shirley was a member of the Elks Lodge and St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church where she helped in the kitchen for various events. Shirley was a very sociable person and enjoyed golfing and playing Bridge with her many card groups. For the last 7 ½ years, she was a resident at Good Shepherd and loved all of their activities they offered, especially Bingo. Most importantly, Shirley loved her family. When her daughter was diagnosed with lupus, she took very special and loving care of her. She was also very close with her twin sister, and they closely raised their families together.
Those left to cherish her memory include her three sons: Greg (Beth) Madsen of Hopkins, Minnesota, Doug (Mary Jane) Madsen of Dekalb, Illinois, and Rob (Gayle) Madsen of Littleton, Colorado; grandchildren: Andrew (Candice) Madsen, Christina (Dan) Hehli, Eric (Katie) Paulson, Bret (Katie) Paulson, Josh (Tammy) Madsen, Chris (Tiffany) Madsen, Dane (Danielle) Madsen, and Ian (Carley) Madsen; great-grandchildren: Aiden, Elliot, Lincoln, Amelia, Margo, Lane, Cade, Bo, Sara Jo, Olivia, Jacob, and Isabelle; along with many nieces, nephews, other family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wesley Madsen; daughter, Cathy Jo “Coke” Paulson; three brothers: Ray, Dale, and Bob Sutton; and twin sister, Joyce Hartwell.
Shirley’s family would like to extend a special thank you to her niece, Barb, MercyOne North Iowa Hospice, and Good Shepherd Health Center for all of the love and care she received.
Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, 1205 South Main Street, Charles City, Iowa 50616 is in charge of local arrangements. Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall for the family at www.hauserfh.com.
