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May 14, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, May 20, 2013 from 4-7 PM
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, May 21, at Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, Wayne.
Christian Fred Madsen, age 87, best known as “Fred”, of Kinnelon, NJ passed away on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 surrounded by his loving family. Fred had lived in Packanack Lake, Wayne, NJ since 1957 and moved to Kinnelon in 1987.
He worked with Unum Insurance for over thirty years and prior to that he owned his own real estate development company; Madsen Realty.
Fred was raised in Wood Ridge, NJ where he graduated from high school. He was an accomplished athlete in both baseball and basketball and was frequently featured in the sports section of the local newspaper. He was awarded with many sports related honors and went on to Seton Hall University, where he graduated with a degree in History and Education. He maintained his athleticism and passion for all sports throughout his life and passed much of it on to his children and grandchildren, many of whom are also accomplished athletes.
Shortly after graduating from high school, Fred was drafted into the U. S. Army in August of 1944 and deployed to the European Theatre during World War II. He served in the Company B, “Old Hickory”, 30th Infantry Division. He was involved in many key battles, including the Battle of the Bulge. Fred was awarded the Bronze Star, WWII Victory medal, European-African-Middle Eastern medal, and the American Campaign medal. He credited his Captain, the very brave Murray S. Pulver (2012), with carrying his platoon safely through the many months of combat. They remained lifelong friends, along with several other fellow soldiers. But one soldier in particular, John McGlone, marched side by side with Fred, as comrades, and they have remained steadfast and bonded in friendship for life. Collectively they attended many Army reunions together over the decades since World War II and Fred and Captain Pulver also returned to Belgium and Paris to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of D-Day. Those years in the Army proved to have a profound impact and shaped Fred to be the admirable man he was throughout his lifetime.
In the summer of 1947 Fred met the love of his life, Joan Lajeskie. He and a close friend had traveled up north for a day at the lake. They noticed a picnic going on across the lake and took a row boat across to the picnic. Upon reaching the shore Fred connected with the eyes of the most beautiful woman he had ever encountered. He said to his friend, “I am going to marry that girl”. They married in 1951 and rest is history. Their love for each other is extraordinary, beautiful and everlasting.
Fred was best known for his kind, genuine and easygoing nature with a true compassion and heartfelt goodwill towards his fellow man. He was a patient man, attentive reflective listener, who understood the importance of honor and integrity in everything he did. He was perpetually kind and loving, certainly towards his children and grandchildren, but especially towards the love of his life; his wife Joan. They were truly devoted to one another through sixty-two years of marriage.
Over the years, Fred enjoyed photography, playing the piano and combing the beach for shells. He was an avid reader of innumerable books, and a fan of auto racing. He never lost his adventurous spirit and for many years he took his family on camping explorations up and down the East Coast of the U.S. and Canada. His children were inspired by these travels, which led to some having settled in Southern California, where Joan and Fred frequently visited. The adventures they have shared together have helped to create a trove of treasured memories and happy times that his family will cherish throughout their lifetimes. He will always be remembered as a best friend, a hero, a loving husband and a most wonderful father and grandfather---He will be missed dearly.
Fred is survived by his dear wife Joan of Kinnelon, his four daughters; Elisa “Lisa” Madsen of Bridgewater, NJ, Pamela Madsen and her husband Eric Dries of Laguna Beach, CA, Kathy Madsen-Nutter and her husband Nicholas of Carlsbad, CA, and Michele Madsen Cantwell and her husband Kevin of Wayne, and four grandchildren: Lauren and William Nutter of Carlsbad, Annika Dries of Laguna Beach, and Danielle Cantwell of Wayne. He is predeceased by his mother Elisa (Olsen) and father Henrik Madsen of Copenhagen, Denmark.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, May 20, 2013 from 4-7 PM
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, May 21, at Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, Wayne.
May 14, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, May 20, 2013 from 4-7 PM
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, May 21, at Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, Wayne.
Christian Fred Madsen, age 87, best known as “Fred”, of Kinnelon, NJ passed away on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 surrounded by his loving family. Fred had lived in Packanack Lake, Wayne, NJ since 1957 and moved to Kinnelon in 1987.
He worked with Unum Insurance for over thirty years and prior to that he owned his own real estate development company; Madsen Realty.
Fred was raised in Wood Ridge, NJ where he graduated from high school. He was an accomplished athlete in both baseball and basketball and was frequently featured in the sports section of the local newspaper. He was awarded with many sports related honors and went on to Seton Hall University, where he graduated with a degree in History and Education. He maintained his athleticism and passion for all sports throughout his life and passed much of it on to his children and grandchildren, many of whom are also accomplished athletes.
Shortly after graduating from high school, Fred was drafted into the U. S. Army in August of 1944 and deployed to the European Theatre during World War II. He served in the Company B, “Old Hickory”, 30th Infantry Division. He was involved in many key battles, including the Battle of the Bulge. Fred was awarded the Bronze Star, WWII Victory medal, European-African-Middle Eastern medal, and the American Campaign medal. He credited his Captain, the very brave Murray S. Pulver (2012), with carrying his platoon safely through the many months of combat. They remained lifelong friends, along with several other fellow soldiers. But one soldier in particular, John McGlone, marched side by side with Fred, as comrades, and they have remained steadfast and bonded in friendship for life. Collectively they attended many Army reunions together over the decades since World War II and Fred and Captain Pulver also returned to Belgium and Paris to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of D-Day. Those years in the Army proved to have a profound impact and shaped Fred to be the admirable man he was throughout his lifetime.
In the summer of 1947 Fred met the love of his life, Joan Lajeskie. He and a close friend had traveled up north for a day at the lake. They noticed a picnic going on across the lake and took a row boat across to the picnic. Upon reaching the shore Fred connected with the eyes of the most beautiful woman he had ever encountered. He said to his friend, “I am going to marry that girl”. They married in 1951 and rest is history. Their love for each other is extraordinary, beautiful and everlasting.
Fred was best known for his kind, genuine and easygoing nature with a true compassion and heartfelt goodwill towards his fellow man. He was a patient man, attentive reflective listener, who understood the importance of honor and integrity in everything he did. He was perpetually kind and loving, certainly towards his children and grandchildren, but especially towards the love of his life; his wife Joan. They were truly devoted to one another through sixty-two years of marriage.
Over the years, Fred enjoyed photography, playing the piano and combing the beach for shells. He was an avid reader of innumerable books, and a fan of auto racing. He never lost his adventurous spirit and for many years he took his family on camping explorations up and down the East Coast of the U.S. and Canada. His children were inspired by these travels, which led to some having settled in Southern California, where Joan and Fred frequently visited. The adventures they have shared together have helped to create a trove of treasured memories and happy times that his family will cherish throughout their lifetimes. He will always be remembered as a best friend, a hero, a loving husband and a most wonderful father and grandfather---He will be missed dearly.
Fred is survived by his dear wife Joan of Kinnelon, his four daughters; Elisa “Lisa” Madsen of Bridgewater, NJ, Pamela Madsen and her husband Eric Dries of Laguna Beach, CA, Kathy Madsen-Nutter and her husband Nicholas of Carlsbad, CA, and Michele Madsen Cantwell and her husband Kevin of Wayne, and four grandchildren: Lauren and William Nutter of Carlsbad, Annika Dries of Laguna Beach, and Danielle Cantwell of Wayne. He is predeceased by his mother Elisa (Olsen) and father Henrik Madsen of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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