Irma Madsen

Irma Christena, daughter of L. Peter and Dagmar (Mortensen) Lange, was born February 11, 1921 in Sharon Township, Audubon County, Iowa, one of eleven children. She attended rural school near her home and was baptized and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church. After completing her education she worked in homes of families in the area. On August 21, 1941, Irma was united in marriage with Thomas S. Madsen at the Lutheran parsonage in Kimballton. They were the parents of six children and lived and farmed east of Kimballton. They retired from farming in 1981 and continued to live on the farm a few more years. Irma's husband died in 1985 and the next year she moved to Kimballton. Irma was a homemaker; however she did work at several part-time jobs after her children were grown including working at grocery stores in Kimballton and Elk Horn. She was quite well known for her rllepolse. Irma was a loyal member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kimballton and the WELCA. She also was a member of Kimballton Community Heritage Society. Irma was able to live alone in her home in Kimballton until she moved to the Salem Lutheran Home in February of 2008. When her health began to fail she entered hospice care at Jenny Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She died there on Thursday, November 8, 2012 at the age of 91 years. Preceding her in death are her husband Thomas; daughter Elaine Leick; sisters Elsie (Arnold) Bro; Edna (Ed) Jensen; Selma (Harry) Walters and Myrtle (Dale) Juelsgaard; brothers Emmert Lange; Franklin Lange and Kenneth Lange; brothers in law Folmer Weddum and Derward Hansen and brother and sister in law Magne (Thelma) Madsen. Irma is survived by her children Carol (Jens) Jensen of Yorkville, IL; Howard C. Madsen (Vernice) of Hilton Head, SC; Alan Madsen (Lori) of Spirit Lake; Warren Madsen (Marie) of Monroe and Gary Madsen of Kimballton; 12 grandchildren Daniel (Deyon) Jensen, Stephanie (Steve) Pederson, Kirstine (Timothy) Bimmerle, Jill (Robert) Jaworski, Shari (Steve) Bachinsky, Anne (Jason) Meers, Adam Madsen, Chris Madsen, Tami Maben, Andrew Leick, Aaron Leick, Tiffany (Adam) Skidmore; 14 great grandchildren, Zachary and Abigail Jensen; Christa and Carley Pederson; Rachel Jaworski; Christopher, Andrew, Haley and Lauren Bachinsky; Alaina and Audra Meers; Douglas Maben; and Brooklyn and Wyatt Skidmore; sisters Mildred Weddum of Atlantic, Darlene Hansen of Exira and Dorothy Hansen of Kimballton; sisters in law Erma Lange, Shirley Lange and Elizabeth Lange; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Officiating Pastor Joy Gonnerman Pastor Ralph Andersen Music "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" "Our Father Has Light In His Window" Congregation Marcia Nelson, Organist Casket Bearers Irma's Family