Wayne Madsen

Wayne Luther Madsen, age 93, formerly of Atwater MN, left this world Aug 11, 2021, from his home at Farmstead Care in Moorhead MN.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 30, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Atwater.  Interment will be at the Lake Lillian Community Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at Peterson Brothers Atwater Funeral Home and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church.  In lieu of flowers please make donations to one of the following in Wayne’s name:  Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Atwater, Farmstead Care of Moorhead or Hospice of the Red River Valley.  Arrangements are with the Peterson Brothers Atwater Funeral Home.  www.petersonbrothers.com

Wayne was born April 27th, 1928, in Lake Lillian MN, to Louis and Ella (Johnson) Madsen. He was the 6 ^th child of 8 with older sisters Vera and Eva, older brothers Elder, Charles and Russell, and younger sisters Ione and last surviving sibling, Ruth, of Bird Island MN.  Wayne was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Lake Lillian.  He graduated from Bird Island High School in 1946 and that August was sworn into the US Air Force for WWII.  After basic training, he was stationed at Keesler Field for 33 months where he did payroll for the squadron.  Wayne began his plumbing career in March of 1950 but was recalled into the Air Force in August for the Korean War.  After being stationed at Hamilton AFB near San Rafael CA he finished his duty as a Staff Sergeant and returned to Lake Lillian to resume his plumbing career.

In June 1953, Wayne married the love of his life, Phyllis Carlson, at Grace Lutheran Church in Lake Lillian.  They were married for 56 years till her death in April of 2009.

In 1965, Wayne moved his family to Willmar and then to Rochester where he managed a plumbing wholesale business.  In 1971 he returned to Atwater and to work for Holm Brothers Plumbing and Heating where he worked till his retirement in 1993.

Wayne was a very giving person.  He was a Boy Scout and then a decorated Scout Master.  He was an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Atwater where he yearly made 350 pounds of peanut brittle to sell for $5.99 a pound at the Uffda Days Fund Raiser.  He loved to tease and to laugh and to spend time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He could sit and talk for hours with anyone and loved to ask questions.  The nurses at Farmstead Care summed it up when they said he was the perfect combination of sweet and sour because he teased everyone yet cared deeply for them.

Wayne is survived by one son Dean (and Lori) Madsen and his daughter Mary (Doug) Butenhoff.  Dean and his wife Lori live in Oxnard, CA. and have daughters Megan, Nicole and Carley.  Mary and her husband, Doug Butenhoff, farm near Barnesville MN. and have three children, Ashley (Matt), John (Rebecca) and Brian.  Wayne is also survived by three great-grandchildren Luke, Elizabeth, and Samantha.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; his wife and all his siblings.