GORDON L. MADSON

Gordon Lee Madson was born on March 25, 1927, at Slifer, IA, the son of Oscar William and Ethel (Gurney) Madson. After graduating from Farnhamville High School in 1944, Gordon was drafted for WWII duty. Most of his duty was at the Pentagon as a staff sergeant where he was in charge of the supply department for Army Ground Forces. After WWII he stayed in the Army Reserves, worked at Hormel’s for a time and then enrolled at Drake University. A month after the Korean War started, he was called back to duty and in January 1950 he went to Korea with the Second Infantry Division. On May 18, 1951, his company was overrun by Chinese Communists and Gordon was among those captured as prisoners of war. He remained in the prisoner camp for 27 months, gaining his freedom on August 18, 1953. Gordon was united in marriage with Dolores Rodenborn on June 2, 1956 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ft. Dodge. He returned to Drake in January 1954 and received his law degree in January 1957. After practicing law at Rockwell City until 1963, he purchased the Manson building and practice of the late A. J. Braginton when Braginton became a district judge. Gordon was Calhoun County attorney from 1960 to 1964 and served 17 years as city attorney of Manson. He has continued to practice law up to the time of his death.

Gordon is survived by his brother Dewey Madson of Gowrie, IA; and brother-in-law Keith Ablett of Iowa City, IA. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Dolores in 2005; sisters Blanche Hinrichs, Betty Larson, and Donna Ablett; and brother Charles Madson.