Madonna M. Varner (1941-2020)

VARNER, STEINES, ELSNER

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 6/23/2020 at 14:01:32

Madonna M. Varner, 79, of Maquoketa, Iowa, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, June 21, 2020 at her home.

A funeral mass celebrating her life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, June 26, 2020 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Maquoketa. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 P.M. on Thursday, June 25, 2020 at Carson Celebration of Life Center in Maquoketa. Cremation will follow the visitation. Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Maquoketa.

Madonna Mae Elsner was born in her grandparents, Charles and Lena Elsner's farmhouse on January 18, 1941 near Iron Hill, Iowa in Jackson County. Her parents were Clarence and Thelma (Steines) Elsner. Her early education was spent at Esgate, Fulton, and Elwood. She graduated from Lost Nation High School in 1959. From the beginning she learned hard work, helping her mom in the garden, canning, cutting corn off the cob, and washing fruit jars and lids. She also learned to bake and cook and twice a week would bake bread as well as clean the house. She started babysitting at 12 years old and while in high school had house cleaning jobs. This hard work would carry over into adulthood as she first worked for the Garment Factory in Clinton until it burnt down and then moved to Maquoketa where she worked for Schultz's Bros. in Maquoketa and lastly as a CNA and in the Housekeeping Department for over 43 years at Maquoketa Care Center until present.
Madonna married Donald Varner on May 3, 1960 in Davenport, Iowa. To this marriage were born: Deborah, Mark and Michael. They later divorced.

Madonna was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Maquoketa. She loved to dance and country music, especially George Strait. She was an avid fan of Elvis Presley. She enjoyed crocheting and spending time with her family, special friends, and her great-grandchildren, Jentry, Jensyn, Langston, Kaley and Charlotte.

Those left to honor his memory include her children, Deborah (Bill) Bowling of Maquoketa, IA, Mark (Jody) Varner of Maquoketa, IA, and Mike (Bridget) Varner of Maquoketa, IA; 5 granddaughters, Billie (Chad) Johnson, Sarah (Joe) Larkin, Jennifer Bowling, Aleshia (Matt) Abraham, Kacie Varner; 5 great-grandchildren, Jentry Johnson, Jensyn Johnson, Langston Larkin, Kaley Larkin and Charlotte Abraham; brothers, Leonard (Linda) Elsner of Calamus, IA, and Bill (Shirley) Elsner of Stetsonville, WI; and sisters, Irma (Fred) Meyer of Maquoketa, IA, Mary (Roger) Eichelberger of Muscatine, IA, Carolyn (Duane) Hansen of DeWitt, IA, and Jean Todtz of Goose Lake, IA. She was preceded in death by her parents Clarence and Thelma Elsner, paternal grandparents Charles and Lena Elsner and maternal grandparents William and Loretta Steines, and a great-granddaughter Jenner Jo Johnson.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, a Madonna Mae Varner memorial fund has been established.