John Leslie Madsen 1924 - 2010

MADSEN MEINERT SWANGER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 11/2/2010 at 18:12:06

Sioux City Journal
9 July 2010

SIOUX CITY -- John Leslie "Les" Madsen, 86, of Sioux City, died Wednesday, July 7, 2010, at Countryside Nursing and Rehab Center.

Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Morningside Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Matthew Miller, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Online condolences may be sent to www.christysmith.com .

He was born on May 4, 1924, in Sioux City to John and Marie (Meinert) Madsen. Les attended and graduated from East High School with the class of 1943. After high school he spent 36 months in the U.S. Army Air Corps. After discharge from the service, he continued his education at Morningside College where he received his BS degree in accounting.

On March 24, 1951, Les and Verla M. Swanger were married in Battle Creek, Iowa. The couple made their home in Sioux City.

Les worked for Swift and Company for 36 years, retiring in 1987.

In his spare time he enjoyed working in his garden and watching sports, especially the Cubs baseball and Iowa football. He also enjoyed attending the East High football games.

Les is survived by his wife of 59 years, Verla of Sioux City; sons Kirk of San Diego, Calif., and Todd and his wife Jane of Colorado Springs, Colo.; daughter Lisa and her husband Joe Barthole of Sioux City; grandchildren Kristen Covey of Ames, Christine and Katherine Madsen of San Diego, Calif., and Julia and Abbie Madsen of Colorado Springs; sister Evelyn Held of Hinton; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law Howard Held.

Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Siouxland and/or Morningside Presbyterian Church.