Bernie Madden, 80, Dies

August 5, 2014  by in Industry, Obituaries   

Born Nov. 7, 1933, in Summerfield, Kan., Madden attended Benedictine College where he played football. He served in Munich, Germany, as part of the U.S. Army's peacekeeping forces in the Korean War before returning to Benedictine College. Madden later attended Creighton University, where he met his Jackie, his wife.

Madden will be remembered as a man who knew no strangers. He was eager to hear everyone's story and never forgot a name or a face. His friends are countless in number. He lived by a few simple mottos, and shared easy advice to others both in business and in friendship. "Always do the right thing" was a favorite phrase of Bernie's, a simple saying that he practiced every day.

He is survived by his wife Jackie, and his children Michelle Madden (David) Miller, Michael (Kelly) Madden, Mary (Randy) Bryson, Denise (Frank) Jurden, Patrick (Kim) Madden, and Paul (Venessa) Madden. He is also survived by his grandchildren Christine Durham, Dawn and Mesmariah Hall, Liam, Harris and Jacqueline Bryson, Zac, Ava and Eli Jurden, Will, Joe and Lily Madden, Collin and Carson Wolf, Lena, Elise, Liv, and Lexi Madden, his brother Jim (Loretta) Madden, his brother Butch, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Madden's charitable work included, but was not limited to St. Ann Catholic Church, Bishop Miege Foundation Board of Trustees, Benedictine University and Abbey, The Catherin V Merrill Foundation, The Foundation for Religious Inclusive Education (FIRE), Mount St. Scholastica, Sister Servants of Mary, Sisters of Charity in Leavenworth, The Serra Club. He was a member of the VanGaurd Club, Rotary #13, and Knights of the Holy Sepulcher. Bernie was honored with numerous awards throughout his life, including The Herb Rome award at Bishop Miege, the Cross of the Order of St. Benedict, and the Deo Gratias Award from the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas.