Vernon Johnson Madsen

Vernon (Vern) Johnson Madsen, one of the sweet ones, left us peacefully to join his loved ones in the hereafter. Born in Dagmar Montana, June 19, 1925 Passed in Shoreline Washington, May 26, 2014. Vern will be remembered as a man who gave selflessly to others in his volunteer work at the Richmond Beach Library. He loved his good friend Anina at the library and everyone else there. He stuck to his reading ideals of the good guy wins with one of his favorite authors being Louis Lamoure. He was often re-reading the same book several times.

Vern originally hailed from Dagmar Montana living on a farm they worked. His mother passed when he was a child and he helped raise his brother Roger and sister Mae and worked the farm with his father (Peter). Later the three children went to live with their grandparents. Vern went to High School in the day, and worked as a dishwasher and odd jobs at night to earn money. In the summers he worked the farm. He started life hard.

Vern was a rifleman & Squad Leader in WWII. He led his squad in the first military wave onto Okinawa Beach where he was one of only a few out of the entire squad to survive. He received the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, Army Occupation Medal (Japan), Good Conduct Medal, Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal with one Bronze Service Star. This experience changed him forever & he seldom wished to discuss or re-live the experience. He was stoic.

He graduated from the University of Washington and was an accountant in work, but a gardener in his heart. He loved tinkering in his greenhouse growing beautiful flowers. His membership in 'Fun with Mums' was one of his joys, taking great pleasure showing and sharing his flower achievements with others.

Vern was a quiet man, very unassuming with a heart of gold. He enjoyed the simple pleasures of life, long walks at the beach, listening to music, reading, feeding the birds, visiting with friends, he was a joy to be around.

Vern was married twice. His first wife, Ann, gave him a daughter, Lori whom he adored, his second wife Rosemary whom he loved deeply and had known for years, passed shortly after they married. Vern is survived by his only daughter & son-in-law, Lori Marcoe (David), his sister Mae Andersen and many extended relatives and friends. He is loved & will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Thanks, Vern, for sharing your life with all of us.