John Jack Stephen Madden

John Stephen Madden, 82, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 15, surrounded by his family. He was born in Lynn on January 23, 1929, the youngest child of Joseph Patrick Madden and Sarah Maude (White) Madden. He grew up in the Brickyard, on Shepard Street, attended Lynn Public Schools, and enlisted in the army at the age of 17. His older bother Bill was already serving in the Army and Jack thought it would be a good opportunity for him. Although Jack had asthma, he did not disclose this condition on the illness section of the application. Thinking he would not be accepted because of health condition, his parents and family had not planned a going-away party for him. But shortly after his visit to the recruiting station, Jack was on his way to Basic Training in Georgia, and then on to Ft. Dix, NJ. From there, he was stationed in Viareggio, Italy where he spent 7 months. Once back in the U.S., he served as a regimental mail clerk at Ft. Bragg, NC until his honorable discharge in 1949.

Jack opened Madden’s Gulf Station on the Lynnway and operated the gas station until the Lynnway was developed from a 2-lane road to a highway. He also operated Jack’s City Service in Wakefield. He was married to Irene Patricia Dowling on March 6, 1955 at St. Mary’s Church.

While raising his family, Jack was active in the community, co-chairing the Lynn Woods Fourth of July festivities for many years, coaching Little League, serving as a den father to the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, and serving as a volunteer on the Manning Bowl Stadium Commission. He worked for 30 years at Massachusetts Gas and Electric, retiring in 1989 from the Meter Department. He was a member of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Lynnfield.

His wife Irene predeceased him on August 26, 1983. He is survived by his daughter, Kathleen Madden Gerecke and her husband Thomas of Lynn, four sons: Christopher Madden of Groveland and his companion, Jane McAvoy of Bradford, Bruce Madden and his wife Erin of Lynnfield, Michael Madden and his wife Wendy of Boxford, and Gregory Madden and his wife Darlene, of Groveland, and nine grandchildren: Ryan, Doug, Ben, Erin, Kyle, Catrina, Jack, Lucy, and Michael. He is the brother of the late Frances M. Madden, Mrs. Margaret A. (Madden) Gangi, and William H. Madden. He also leaves 11 nieces and nephews.

John Madden will be remembered for his many good deeds over the years, his sense of humor, his respect for others, and his undying love of his family. It would be his greatest wish to have everybody continue in his tradition of performing acts of kindness during their daily routine.

His funeral will be held on Friday at 9 a.m. from the CUFFE-MCGINN FUNERAL HOME, 157 Maple St, Lynn, followed by a Funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Lynnfield at 10 a.m. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours are Thursday from 4-8 p.m.