Dean Madsen

Dean P. Madsen, age 52, of New London, passed away Thursday morning, Sept. 16, at his residence from ALS.

A celebration of life service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 8, at Faith Lutheran Church.  Interment will be at the Spicer City Cemetery with military honors provided by the Spicer American Legion Post #545.  Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7, at Faith Lutheran Church and will continue for one hour prior to the service.  In lieu of flowers, memorials to The Barn Theater in Willmar, The Little Theater in New London, Heart and Sole Running Club / Kandiyohi County YMCA, or the ALS Association are preferred.  Arrangements are with the Peterson Brothers Green Lake Funeral Home in Spicer. www.petersonbrothers.com

Dean Patrick Madsen was born on January 26, 1969, in Hayward, California, the son of Arvid and Vicki (Hoy) Madsen.  He grew up in New London, graduated from New London-Spicer High School in 1987 and was enrolled in the drafting program at the Willmar Vo-Tech.  Over the years, Dean worked as a draftsman in Elk River, a lab tech at Eco-Agri Labs in Willmar, a machinist at Braun Crow River Industries in Brooten, and a parts and service manager at Family Marine in Willmar.

Dean served as a fitness instructor (boot camp), certified personal trainer, health and wellness director, and was the Associate Executive Director at the Kandiyohi Area YMCA until his retirement in April.  From 1986 to 2006, Dean served in the Minnesota National Guard.

Dean was very active in numerous area theater productions.  At the Barn Theatre in Willmar, he was first cast in the production of  A Christmas Carol as Jacob Marley.  He was also involved in productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Addams Family, Kitchen Witches, Sex Please We’re 60, Diary of Anne Frank, Our Town,  and The Shadow radio shows.  At the Little Theatre in New London he was involved in the cast of Those Crazy Ladies in the House on the Corner, 3 Murders and it is only Monday, and Watson.  At the Paramount Theater in St. Cloud he was cast in A Christmas Carol, again as Marley, and was in the Laramie Project, in Hutchinson.

Dean was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, Willmar Sertoma Service Club, Heart and Sole Running Club, and former member of Vinje’s Tapestry Choir.  He also served as Adjutant of the Spicer American Legion Post #545.  He was an avid hunter, runner, and outdoorsman.

Per Dean’s final wishes: go enjoy the outdoors, be it running, hunting, or just walking your dog.

He is survived by his loving wife, Karen; one daughter, Sonja Madsen; his mother, Vicki Madsen of Willmar; two sisters, Dana (and Richard) Fernelius of Little Falls and Cori Madsen of Negaunee, MI; his step-father, Richard (and Julie) Madsen of Willits, CA; and beloved relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Arvid, his grandparents, and Uncle Gary Madsen (his Godfather).