Vivian Ruth Madras

Born in Merrill, Wisconsin on August 2nd 1928, a ten year old Vivian was told by her father Paul Wittkop to move to California as soon as she could. Growing up in Wausau, Wi with her father and her mother Elsie, she took that advice and moved to the Los Angeles area with her first husband Fred Kiewert. Fred and Vivian had two children, Daniel and Sandra.

Vivian remarried and was preceded in death by her beloved John C. Madras. They enjoyed a lifetime of laughter and deep friendships that started in the San Fernando Valley of California and carried through to Henderson, Nevada. After John retired from the LAPD, Vivian also retired from the LA County School District where she thoroughly loved working as a crossing guard. They were both active in church communities, polka dancing, bowling, and going to “work” (playing at casinos).

In retirement, Vivian spent her time playing cards and board games with friends and family, being a greeter at Green Valley Evangelical Lutheran Church, organizing church groups, staying busy in her tightknit friend groups and making sure there was always laughter and joy involved with everything she did.

Vivian will be fondly remembered and missed by many people who were blessed to have known her. She is survived by her son, Daniel Kiewert and his wife Sylvia of Coos Bay, Oregon and her daughter Sandra Faulk of El Centro, California.

Vivian was known as “Grandma Gigian” (because Vivian is a difficult name for a two year old to pronounce) by four now married grandchildren, Scott Faulk and wife Angie of Redlands, Ca., Stacey Tieger and husband Matt of Carlsbad, Ca, Daniel Kiewert and wife Janelle of Coos Bay, Or and John Kiewert and wife, Andrea of Springfield, Or. Grandma Gigian is also great grandma to ten; Madeleine, Casadi, Bradley, Deanna, Trenten, Brett, Jordan, Airabella, Drake and Elliana.

If you knew her, you probably know at least one or two “gigianisms” that will stay with you. It is that smile and laugh resulting from that wisdom that best celebrates her memory.

Please contact the family directly for details regarding the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Green Valley Evangelical Lutheran Church or to her late son-in-law’s memorial scholarship, the Green & Gold Samuel Faulk Annual Student Award in Holtville, Ca.

The best a person can do is eat, drink and enjoy their work. I saw that even this comes from God. No one can eat or enjoy life without God. If a person pleases God, God will give them wisdom, knowledge and joy. Ecclesiastes 2: 24-26

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmeastern.com for the Madras family.