Robert LeRoy "Bob" Madison 1944 - 2016

MADISON, HANSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-volunteer (email)
Date: 12/16/2016 at 20:54:00

Sioux City Journal
4 November 2016

MAPLETON, Iowa | Robert L. "Bob" Madison, 71, of Mapleton, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016, at the Methodist Hospital in Omaha.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. John's United Methodist Church in Mapleton. The Rev. Jena Manchester will officiate. Private family graveside services will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Sioux City. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. today at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home in Mapleton.

Robert LeRoy "Bob" Madison was born on Dec. 16, 1944, in Waterloo, Iowa. He spent his boyhood years on a farm near Woden, Iowa, with his parents, Roy and Jo Madison. He graduated from Woden-Crystal Lake High School in 1962. He then attended Universal Technical Institute in Omaha, where he honed his skills as an automotive technician.

Bob and his wife, Linda Hanson were married on Dec. 7, 1963 in Sioux City. They had two daughters, Susanne and Cindy. Bob owned several businesses through the years. He was a mechanic and he loved to buy and sell vehicles.

Bob loved auto racing as a competitive driver, yet he was always willing to help other race drivers with tuning their race cars. Because of his skill in diagnosing technical problems, he earned the nickname, "Doc." Bob was an avid NASCAR fan, and at one time, he was a NASCAR tech inspector. Bob owned and flew airplanes and helicopters and he also served as president of the area Experimental Aircraft Club. He also enjoyed boating on the Missouri River where he raced his jet boat, too. He owned several classic cars and was a member of the Sioux City Strollers Car Club.

In his later years, he drove a semi-truck and he hauled a wide variety of items from wood chips, to beef, to baby chicks. He pulled everything from tankers to doubles. He also enjoyed rescuing animals and he cared for several horses, llamas and dogs.

Bob lived life to the fullest and was never afraid to take a risk. He fought melanoma for the last two years of his life and he crossed the finish line into heaven on Nov. 1, 2016. The song made famous by Elvis Presley sums up his life, "I Did It My Way."

Bob is survived by his wife, Linda; daughter, Cindy Madison; grandchildren, Ashley (Dan) Kayser, Nick (BreAnn) Minar, Ciera Madison, and Bradon Madison; great-grandchild, Braden Kayser; and one sister, Barbara Iverson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Susanne; and granddaughter, Kara.

Memorials may be directed to St. John's United Methodist Church in Mapleton.