Madonna Y. Wise, 95, passed peacefully on August 15, 2019 surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by her son, Colonel Randall Larsen, USAF (ret) and wife Tonya of Round Rock TX, grandchildren Dana Larsen and JoLana Larsen of Austin, TX, Tami Guinn of San Antonio, TX, Trevor Cooper and wife Kasey of Corpus Christi, Racquel Cooper of Brooklyn, NY, and her son-in-law Evan Cooper of Emerson, NJ. Madonna was preceded in death by her first husband Claude Larsen, her second husband John Wise, her sister Mildred Chamberlin, and her daughter Claudia Cooper.
Madonna was born to Rea and Goldie (Hoover) Yauky in New Castle, Indiana, and worked for many years as an executive secretary at Perfect Circle Dana Corporation while raising her and Claude’s two devoted children, Randall and Claudia. Upon retirement, they relocated to Pueblo, CO, where she was active in the Ecumenical Church of Pueblo West, and the local volunteer community. Widowed in 1997, Madonna married John Wise of Pueblo in 1999 at the tender age of 75, and they traveled extensively and could often be seen around town in their red Porsche 911 until John’s passing in 2001. For many years her smile greeted employees and visitors at the gift shop in Parkview Medical Center, where she worked the register and in the stock room well into her 80s.
Upon moving to Texas in 2015 to be closer to her son and family, Madonna enjoyed long games of cards, Mexican Train, and Rummikub with her many friends at Provident Crossings in Round Rock, TX. She never met a stranger, but she was particularly adept at developing and cultivating lifelong friendships with the many women she met throughout her life, oftentimes acting as a surrogate mother and providing loving support and guidance. For family and friends alike, Madonna was always a pillar of strength, determination, faith, generosity, kindness, and fierce love. She derived her greatest joy and pride from watching her family grow and create loving and productive lives, modeled after the graceful example she always set.
A memorial service will be held at Cook Walden Forest Oaks Chapel, 6300 W William Cannon Dr., Austin, TX 78749, on Sunday, October 13, 2019, at 11:00 am.
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