Madson, Dr. Wm. E. - 1879 - 1954

MADSON, ROBEY

Posted By: Linda Vander Linden - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/28/2010 at 13:47:43

Dr. Wm. E. Madson, 74, who for 41 years lived in Hawarden and served this vicinity as a veterinarian, died Sunday morning following a cerebral hemmorrhage. Dr. Madson had been in failing health about 10 years.

Funeral services were held at 2:30 Wednesday afternoon at the Associated church with Rev. John C. Thorns officiating. Hal Shoemaker with Mrs. Shoemaker as accompanist sang "The Old Rugged Cross" and "In The Garden". Pall bearers were Harold Shoemaker, Earl Slife, Sr., Dave Muilenburg, Eldon Ericson, J. Gus Anderson and Lee Keehn.

Burial was in Grace Hill cemetery under the direction of the Frazier Funeral Home.

Business places of Hawarden were closed between 2:30 and 3:30 for the services.

After coming to Hawarden Dr. Madson took an active part in public, social and church affairs. For many years he was active in the Chamber of Commerce and at one time was a member of the Rotary Club. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and served for many years on the board of control and later served in the same capacity in the Associated Church. He was a member of the board of education for a number of years and served as president of this group.

For 45 years he was a Mason and a member of the Odd Fellows lodge, serving at one time as noble grand of the latter organization. He joined these lodges while he was at Ames and later transferred to the local organizations. His hobby was fishing and at one time he held an office with the Sioux Valley conservation board.

He was a member of the American and the Inter-State Veterinarian Medical associations and at one time was president of the latter-association. In 1913 he was appointed Deputy State Veterinarian. In his work as a veterinarian he was unceasing, which in the earlier years meant long hours and hard work.

He was born June 1, 1879 in Sioux City where he grew to manhood. He was graduated from Central High School in 1898 and from the veterinarian school of Iowa State College in Ames in 1905. Following his graduation he served as Inspector of the Bureau of Animal Industry at Cedar Rapids for several years. Later he was a professor at the college.

In 1912 he came to Hawarden to practice his profession. He was married to Miss Carol May Robey of Lake Park, Iowa, October 1, 1913.

Besides the widow he is survived by four sons, Charles of Los Angeles, Calif., Willard of Kansas City, Mo., Daniel of Salem, Ore. and Donald of Baltic S.D. Three sons, Robert, Rodney and Leonard preceded him in death. Rodney died in 1944 while in the service and stationed on New Guinea Island in the Pacific.

Source: Hawarden Independent, January 14, 1953