Madeline Josephine Koranek

Madeline Josephine Koranek entered heaven holding the hand of her mother, Meagan Altman Koranek, and following “her puppies”, Dixie & Koda, on April 28, 2026. A ray of sunshine wherever she went, Maddie is remembered for her joie de vivre, loving heart, radiant smile and wonderful sense of humor.

Born October 19, 2023 in Lafayette, Louisiana, Madeline is the eldest child of Christopher and Meagan Koranek.

Maddie was the kind of easy-going baby that lures parents into having a second. Her first words were “Dada” and “Dixie”, but notoriously not “Mama”, much to Mama’s chagrin. Mom was afraid of raising a girly girl and would bury Maddie’s dolls at the bottom of the toy bin or hide her pink clothes in the back of the closet, only to be miffed when Maddie would always pull them out again.

An incredibly social child, Maddie made friends wherever she went: from the food sample folks at Costco to the gym daycare. Her parents quickly learned she wanted to be out and about daily, and so she began preschool at St Barnabas Lafayette where she earned the nickname “Maddie K” to distinguish herself from the other Maddie in her class, and she used it to refer to herself often.

Maddie K loved to dance and anytime the Nutcracker was played she had to put on her pink tutu and spin. Maddie learned to swim at 18 months. She would cause spectators at the pool to gasp in awe as her daddy tossed her into the air and she would splash and then swim underwater to her Ariel mermaid. Books were magical to Maddie. She would ask anyone to read to her and she would happily sit and listen for however many books she could convince you to read.

Maddie loved her daddy and being silly with him. After getting the notification that her daddy had left the office, she would call him and ask if she could ride with him in the truck up the driveway while listening to and making the hand motions to Wheels on the Bus. They could frequently be heard shouting across the house at each other in their best southern drawl “Hot diggity dog Maddie” to which she always replied “Hot diggity dog Daddy”. Their latest favorite pastime was mowing the lawn together on the riding lawnmower.

At just two and a half years old, Maddie brought a light to the world that was impossible to miss. She had an infectious joy lovingly instilled by her mother, and a boundless curiosity. Maddie had a way of connecting with people that made everyone feel like an instant friend. Whether at the park or touring schools with her mama, she noticed kids on the playground and shouted “Hello, friends.” In her short but beautiful life, Maddie embodied the same spirit that defined her mother - a zest for life, a deep capacity for love and a warmth that touched everyone she met. We imagine her entering heaven with her pure heart and happily saying “Hello friends.”

Madeline is survived by her father Christopher, her brother Thomas, grandparents Jay & Michelle Biggs, Dawn Altman, Mark & Julie Altman, and Tom & Denise Koranek; uncle Mark (Jacqueline) Altman II, uncle Matthew (Michelle) Altman, aunt Bailey (Cody) Kroeker, uncle Jeff (Lauren) Biggs, aunt Sarah Biggs, and aunt and godmother Clare (Bud) Morris; cousins Mark Altman III, Ellie Altman, Eva & Connie Kroeker, Jolene & Bennet Biggs and Kate & Jack Morris.

She is preceded in death by her mother Meagan Altman Koranek, her puppies Dixie and Koda, and great-grandmother & namesake Josephine Fojtik.

**SERVICE DETAILS**

Visitation with family and a Rosary will be held from 5-7pm Friday, May 15th at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home in Colleyville, TX. Funeral Mass will be held at 11am Saturday, May 16th at Good Shepherd Catholic Community, Colleyville, TX. A lunch reception will follow.

The loss of Meagan and Maddie together is a profound and heartbreaking tragedy, one that cannot be measured or fully understood. Yet their lives, though far too brief, were filled with meaning, love and impact. Meagan’s strength, ambition and devotion to her family live on through the countless lives she touched and through the bright, beautiful spirit she passed onto her daughter. As a final gift, Meagan and Maddie were both able to bless the lives of others through the gift of organ donation.

They will both be remembered always-for the love they gave so freely, and for the light they brought into this world.

**MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS**

So many of you have lovingly reached out asking how to support Chris and Tommy in the practical days ahead. For those wishing to contribute, there are two meaningful ways to honor and support the family:

The Meagan & Maddie K Memorial Fund - Donor-Advised Fund

As a donor-advised fund, your contributions are tax-deductible, and any future disbursements from the fund are strictly limited to registered charitable organizations. This allows Chris to thoughtfully direct grants over time to causes that honor Meagan and Maddie's legacy.

For Checks: DAFgiving360 200 S 108th Ave. Omaha, NE 68154. Must include Memo: 2611-5975 Koranek

For Wires: Please contact Jack Reilly at [email protected] or 817-798-0535 for wiring instructions.

Chris & Tommy Family Support Fund

In addition to the memorial fund, a dedicated support account has been established to assist Chris with the immediate and long-term expenses of raising Tommy and re-building. These personal contributions will go directly to Chris to help navigate Tommy’s everyday living expenses and ongoing care. If you wish to contribute to the Chris & Tommy Family Support Fund, instructions are included below. Please note that as these are direct gifts to the family, they are not tax-deductible.

For Checks:Made payable directly to Chris Koranek and mailed to:

2703 Hidden Lake Cove, Grapevine, TX 76051

For Venmo:@Chris-Koranek

For Wires:Please contact Jack Reilly at [email protected] or 817-798-0535 for wiring instructions