Obituary of Mary Jennette Madsen

Mary Jennette Madsen, age 90, of Spring Park, formerly of Delano & Minneapolis, lived a joyful life, loving Jesus and people. Jennette died peacefully on December 14, 2021.

Please join us on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at 1:00 pm for singing, followed by a 2:00 pm memorial service at Watertown Ev. Free Church, 509 Jefferson Ave SW, Watertown, MN. No luncheon will be served due to Covid; masks and social distancing by personal choice. For those unable to attend, it will be livestreamed: www.wevfree.org (YouTube button on church website). In lieu of flowers, gifts preferred to www.gideons.org or the family.

Jennette was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 62 years, John Robert Madsen in 2013, her parents, Edwin and Elizabeth (Collins) Erlougher, sisters, Anne Hesselroth and Joyce Ferenc, brothers-in-law, Gordy Hesselroth and John Ferenc, nephews, David Hesselroth and Jay Ferenc and great-grandson, Owen Mathews.

Jennette is survived by her seven children: John & Judith of Minneapolis, Robert & Beverly of New Hope, Mary & Christopher Cleveland of Kettle River, James & Martha of Watertown, Carol & William Gerdes of Caledonia, Peter & Jennifer of Lester Prairie, and Sarah & Eric Rousar of Carver, 37 grandchildren and 69+ great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends & neighbors.

Jennette was born and raised in Minneapolis, and met Jack at a picnic with friends. Their favorite dates were going to church together every Sunday. Wedding bells rang on December 16, 1950, a beautiful winter evening with gently falling snow. They raised their family of five young children in the Shingle Creek neighborhood of north Minneapolis, but prayed & dreamed of being out in the country.

Labor Day weekend in 1963, they moved their growing family west, to a hobby farm south of Delano, with rolling hills, a creek on the back 40 and plenty of room for the children to play and explore. They were blessed when two more children were born, making their family complete! John & Jennette loved their quiet life out in the country, enjoyed seeing the birds & wildlife, working in the garden, raising a few animals and heating with wood.

They had the privilege of being part of the beginning days of Delano Ev. Free Church and Village Ev. Free Church, serving on boards and committees at church, teaching Sunday School, VBS, leading youth group, song leader and singing in the choir. The work of the church was a joyous expression of their relationship with Jesus, their Savior.

On Labor Day weekend in 2001, John & Jennette moved east and lived the remainder of their life on the shores of Lake Minnetonka in Spring Park at Lake Minnetonka Shores. They enjoyed this season of community living: meeting new friends and neighbors, weekly Bible Study, showing Gospel Films, library committee & volunteer reader at the Koala Bear Child Care. They belonged to the Gideons International since 1994, enjoying the ministry of Bible distribution. In their later years, they attended Mound Ev. Free Church, where they loved the pastor’s Biblical preaching and the warm fellowship.

Jennette had a sunny disposition and a cheerful outlook. She summed up her life this way, “I lived a simple life, but I have served a great God!”

To God be the glory, great things He has done!