Gary Kent Madson, 85, of Woodstock, Va., died Sunday, Nov. 6 at Shenandoah Memorial Hospital.
He was born Oct. 3, 1937, in Spring Valley, Wis., the son of the late Clarence Arthur Madson and Alice (Swenson) Madson.
Gary graduated from the University of Wisconsin- River Falls with a degree in agriculture and journalism, leading to his first job reporting on farm issues for the local Mendota, Minn. newspaper, while serving in the Army Reserves. His subsequent involvement in the Illinois Farm Bureau led to a career in Washington, D.C. Gary served in the agricultural sector, appointed to Congressional Relations in the USDA. Gary was an avid sailor and woodsman, and spent much of his free time with Mary Lou on the Chesapeake Bay and in the woods of Bayfield, Wis., in the cabin imported from Norway, the country of his family’s origin.
Gary is survived by his wife Mary Lou (Ramsey) Madson, daughter Sara Madson Wilson (Ken) of Kansas City, Mo., son Peter Nils Madson (Erin) of Alexandria, Va., Monica Mullin Palme (Gareth) of Huntsville, Al., Sam Mullin (Jeannie) of Woodstock, Va.;
grandchildren Morgan Palme of Front Royal, Va., Tristan Palme of Huntsville, Al., Madeline, Maxwell and Jack Wittman of Kansas City, Mo. and Cyrus and Alyssa Madson of Alexandria, Va. He is also survived by two sisters, Nola Gehn (Dale), Katherine Beeson (Robert) and brother Dean Madson (Sandy), Aunt Sylva Anderson (Alan) and a number of cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues.
A celebration of Gary’s life was held Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, at 11 a.m. at Gilman Lutheran Church, Spring Valley with visitation for one hour prior to the service at church. A luncheon followed the service. Burial in Gilman Lutheran Cemetery, Spring Valley.
Keehr Funeral Home, (www.keehrfuneralhome. com) Spring Valley is handling arrangements.
