Arlene M. Mades

Arlene M. Mades, age 80, passed away peacefully January 27, 2017 at Sienna Crest Assisted Living in Oregon, WI where she had been residing due to issues related to vascular dementia and heart disease.

Arlene was born July 22, 1936 to Lillian and Oliver Hagen in Blair, WI. She graduated from Black River Falls High School in 1954, and began working at the clinic in Black River until her marriage to Marlin Mades in 1959. In 1969, they moved to Janesville in order for Marlie to continue working for JATCO. Upon his retirement, they moved to La Crosse County to be close to all the Mades clan in the area. They were avid campers, and spent many happy summers in their early married life at their property on Bear Island in the Apostle Islands, and in later years, Goose Island County Park and Lake Arbutus in Hatfield. They also enjoyed playing cards around the dining table with Marlie’s sister, Vernetta, and her late husband, Ara, at their home near West Salem; their goal seemingly to keep the kids awake with their late night raucous games of Five Hundred. Arlene’s love of cards was a life-long activity, and she participated in a nightly euchre game with her fellow residents of Sienna Crest until only quite recently. She was a voracious reader (attested to by her children, who had to pack and move at least a thousand paperback books), and she was known by all the librarians at the Onalaska Public Library by name.

Arlene lived in the La Crosse area until her family determined she needed some additional assistance and moved her back to Janesville. She was a 40+ year survivor of cancer, and was proud of the fact that it never slowed her down. She was most known for, in no particular order: her willingness to give unveiled and unguarded opinions on any subject; her appreciation of a good bargain (her middle name should have been the Norwegian word for “Frugal”); and, her profound love of all things chocolate. Her sweet tooth knew no bounds.

She is survived by her five children: Lori Mades of Oshkosh, Lisa (Mason Parsley) Mades of Janesville, Linda (Bill) Broussard of Hampton, VA, John Mades of Camp Douglas, and Lana (Jay Anderson) Mades of Madison; five granddaughters; three great-grandchildren; and her two sisters, Nancy (the late Don) Blum of Rockford and Patricia (Roger) Shaw of Oshkosh; along with many loved in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, and her beloved husband, Marlie.

Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services of Onalaska is assisting the family with arrangements. Interment will be at Green Mound Cemetery north of Holmen in a private ceremony. A memorial gathering for friends and family will be held in the spring on a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to suggest that memorials in Arlene’s name may be designated to the Friends of the Onalaska Public Library, or Agrace Hospice.

The family would like to express profound thanks and gratitude for the care and many kindnesses shown to Arlene by the staff of Sienna Crest Assisted Living and Agrace Hospice.