Darlene Madden

Darlene Ruth Madden, formerly of Weston, Wisconsin, left this earth to be with her Lord and Savior on October 8, 2021 at the age of 86.  Darlene was born in Merrill, Wisconsin on July 30, 1935 to Olaf H. and Min (Welk) Skare.  Her family moved to Wausau in 1944. She graduated from Wausau Senior High School in 1953 and married Wallace James Madden on February 16, 1957 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, later becoming St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Wausau, Wisconsin. They were married for almost 35 years until his death in 1991.

Darlene worked in the office of Winkelman’s Department Store from 1953 to 1957 and then began a career in banking beginning with First American National Bank in Wausau and then for many years at Intercity State Bank in Schofield, retiring in 1995.

She was a member of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ from 1944 until her death.  Darlene was confirmed and married at St. Paul’s, taught Sunday School in the Advanced Primary Department for 10 years, was a member of the church’s Mother’s Club, and served as Treasurer on the Church Audit Committee for a two-year term.

Darlene was an intelligent, artistic woman.  She loved crafting, sewing, knitting, crocheting, needlework, reading, and gardening, having many indoor and outdoor plants and vegetable gardens through the years.  Animals were another passion and, along with her daughter, crocheted and donated thousands of cat toys to humane societies in Wisconsin.

Darlene is survived by her daughter Tammy (David) Marone of Kronenwetter, grandsons Adam of Kronenwetter, Eric (Brittany) Marone and great grandchildren Ava and Elias of Weston.  She is also survived by nieces Donna Winker of Merrill, Deanna (Rick) Day of Wausau, Wendy (Forest) Black of Harshaw, and Lori Schultz of Colorado.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and sisters Joyce Osness and Joan Schultz and their husbands Don and Jim, and niece Lynn Schultz.

Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at Brainard Funeral Home – Everest Chapel, 5712 Memorial Court, Weston with Chaplain Mark Lewis presiding. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until the time of service at the funeral home on Wednesday.

A very special thank you to Oak Heights Assisted Living in Kronenwetter whose past and present administrators and caring staff gave her kind, compassionate care and made her stay there very comfortable.  Thank you also to the great staff of Compassus Hospice who provided additional care.  It was much appreciated.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Humane Society of Marathon County, 7001 Packer Drive, Wausau, WI 54401 or the Lincoln County  Humane Society, 310 N. Memorial Drive, Merrill, WI 54452