Margaret (Fank) Madsen

Margaret (Fank) Madsen, 89, of Forest City died Wednesday, July 29, 2015 in her home.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 A.M., Saturday, August 1, 2015 at St. James Catholic Church in Forest City with Fr. Paul Lippstock officiating.

Burial will be held at the St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Britt.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 P.M., Friday at the Cataldo Schott Funeral Home, 505 N. Clark St., in Forest City with a scriptural wake service at 7 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Margaret (Fank) Madsen memorial fund in care of the family.

Margaret Fank was born July 7, 1926 in Forest City, Iowa, the daughter of Olaf and Anna (Vold) Bartleson. She attended Forest City Schools. She was married to Joseph Charles Fank on June 13, 1942 to this union seven children were born. Margaret worked for Coca-Cola and Winnebago Industries in her earlier years and operated the Bullpen Café in Forest City for a few years. Her last employment was at the Super-Value grocery store at the meat counter in Britt. She was remarried to Henry Madsen for thirteen years until they divorced, he later died.

Margaret enjoyed gardening, baking, and cooking for her family on Sundays. She was well known for her special cinnamon rolls, bread and homemade rolls. She made Afghans; many were made for her grandchildren and she also made many that she donated to Veterans and other organizations. Margaret loved having family and friends around and always enjoyed a good conversation. She had a great sense of humor and played practical jokes on co-workers and friends. Margaret will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved her.

Margaret is survived by her seven children, Josephine Grothe and husband Jim, Lula Ringham, John Fank and wife Sharon, James Fank and wife Jolene, Susan Pleva and husband Mark, Barb Ruiter and husband Barney and Patricia Lein (Sheldon Olson); twenty-three grandchildren; twenty-six great-grandchildren and six great great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joseph Fank in 1983; five grandchildren, Anthony Grothe, Scott Jones, Christie Jones, Rhonda Jones and Charles Ruiter; one son-in-law; eight siblings, Myrtle Northrup, Paul Bartleson, Gena Ross, Olga Kaylor, Carrie Flesche, Clara Witmer, Arthur Bartleson, Donald Bartleson and numerous other family members.