Richard John Madsen 1941-2013

MADSEN, MILLER, JORDAN, BREYFOGLE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/18/2013 at 12:01:03

Sioux City Journal
16 February 2013

SIOUX CITY | Richard Madsen, 72, of Sioux City, formerly of Battle Creek, Iowa, died Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, at Touchstone Living Center in Sioux City.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. today at First Presbyterian Church in Battle Creek, with the Rev. Kevin Freese officiating. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery in Battle Creek, with military rites conducted by American Legion Maple Valley Post No. 364. Visitation will be one hour prior to services today at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Christensen-Huffman Funeral Home in Battle Creek. Online condolences may be posted at www.christensenhuffman.com.

Richard John Madsen was born Jan. 8, 1941, in Woodbury County, Iowa, the son of Rudolph and Florence Carolyn (Miller) Madsen. He grew up in the Battle Creek area and graduated from Battle Creek High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of South Dakota.

Richard married Joyce Jordan in 1965. Joyce died in 1993.

Richard served in the military for 20 years, retiring as a major in the U.S. Army. He served in Vietnam, Korea, Germany, Alaska and other stateside locations. He was awarded the Bronze Star, First through Fourth Oak Leaf Clusters and Meritorious Service Medal. He returned to Battle Creek, where he farmed and worked for Ida County Emergency Management for 12 years.

Richard married Ellen Breyfogle on Sept. 14, 1996, at First Presbyterian Church in Battle Creek. They moved to Sioux City in 1999, where Richard worked for IDALS as environmental specialist coordinator of the Loess Hills Urban Water Quality project. He retired in 2004 but continued to volunteer, writing grants in areas of conservation.

An active member of the community, Richard enjoyed memberships in First Presbyterian Church, Lions Club, American Legion and Kiwanis Club of Ida Grove. His hobbies included reading and gardening. He also loved his grandchildren and volunteering for the Red Cross.

Survivors include his wife, Ellen; three children, Deb (George) Flores of Lawton, Okla., Brian Breyfogle of Sioux City and Teresa Mohwinkle (special friend Jessica Fielding), of Sioux City; three grandchildren, Kristian and Madsen Flores and Gracie Breyfogle; a brother, Darrell (Vickie) Madsen of Shenandoah, Iowa; and a sister, Janice (Paul) Heyer of Battle Creek.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant sister; and his first wife, Joyce.

Memorials in his name may be directed to Richard Madsen Conservation Scholarship Fund or OABCIG Scholarship Foundation.