Madsen, Kathye (1944-1966), Kristeen Elaine (1962-1966)

MADSEN, MACKAY

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 10/26/2016 at 18:27:23

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, Thursday, July 7, 1966

Local Mother, Daughter Die in F.D. Tragedy

Mrs. Joe Madsen, 3 1/2-Year Old Girl Drowning Victims

Mrs. Joe Madsen, 22, Webster City, and her three and one-half year old daughter, Kristeen, lost their lives Wednesday afternoon in a tragic mishap in Soldier Creek at Fort Dodge where they had been enjoying an outing with friends at Crawford Park.

The young mother and her tiny daughter were sucked into a drainage pipe when Mrs. Madsen attempted to save the child who would have been four years old Nov. 22.

Mrs. Madsen, her only child, and three members of another Webster City family had driven 20 miles to Fort Dodge for an outing which ended in tragedy at 2:30 p.m.

Police Chief Harry Campbell said a 20-foot wide concrete slab serves as a bridge across the creek and under the concrete a 20-inch pipe funnels the water through. Campbell gave this account of what he described as an unbelievable mishap:

Kristeen fell off the bridge into water about 3 1/2 feet deep and disappeared. The current apparently swept her into the drain pipe which was designed to keep the small bridge-without rails-from flooding. Mrs. Madsen became hysterical when she couldn't find her daughter, dove into the shallow water and she, too, was sucked into the pipe.

The victims were jammed in the pipe while a dozen policemen and firemen waded around looking for them.

The bodies could not be recovered until workers hammered a hole in the concrete and a hoist was used to lift the pipe. A fireman reached in and pulled them out.

Along on the outing were Mrs. Gerald Dingman, 30, a neighbor of the Madsens in Webster City, and her two daughters, Pam, 9-1/2, and Bonnie, 8-1/2. They witnessed the tragedy.

Mrs. Dingman said the victims disappeared so completely that "I couldn't believe it."

She called to a Fort Dodge youth, Mike Littzen, 16, who could find no trace of the victims.

Mrs. Dingman then drove to a service station and summoned help.

Mrs. Madsen's husband, a television repairman, was at work.

Her survivors include her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Archie MacKay of Eagle Grove, a sister and a brother.

Fort Dodge Parks Supt. R.D. Mitchell said the drain pipe was installed about 10 years ago to help control the flow of the creek, which sometimes is dry and other times is so high that water still flows over the bridge.

Mitchell said that as a result of the double drowning the pipe may be sealed up.

Mrs. Dingman later told authorities that when Mrs. Madsen first waded into the water to seek her daughter "she went into hysterics and dived in, too."

"Not knowing the water was shallow, she might have hit her head or something," Mrs. Dingman continued. "I really didn't know what to do. I couldn't believe it. Both gone."

Mrs. Dingman, whose husband is employed in Fort Dodge by the Pray Plumbing and Heating Co., said she and her family had gone to the park many times previously for outings.

The Madsen family had lived in Webster City since November, 1964, moving here from Eagle Grove after Mr. Madsen had accepted a position in March, 1964, as television repair man at the Home Appliance store in this community.

Double Rites On Saturday At Eagle Grove

Double funeral services for Mrs. Joe Madsen and her daughter, Kristeen [23 Nov 1962], will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Congregational church in Eagle Grove.

The Rev. Emmett Brasselton will officiate and burial will be made in the Rose Hill cemetery at Eagle Grove.

The bodies will lie in state at the Sandvig Funeral home in Eagle Grove until the time of services.

Mrs. Madsen, the former Kathye MacKay, was born [26 Feb 1944] in Eagle Grove, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Archie MacKay. She attended the Eagle Grove schools and grew to young womanhood in that community.

Surviving are her husband, her parents; one sister, Mrs. Robert Metcalf of Southport, Ind., and a brother, Charles MacKay of Eagle Grove.