Gary Lee Madsen Passes at Age 78

Gary Lee Madsen, 78, of Grand Island, died on March 30, 2023, at CHI Health–St. Francis in Grand Island. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday April 5th, at Apfel Funeral Home, with Reverend Beverly Hieb officiating. Burial followed at the Grand Island City Cemetery.

Gary was born on December 9, 1944, in St. Paul, to Frode and Ethel (Baxter) Madsen. He grew up on a farm in Nysted. Gary attended Dannebrog High School and graduated in 1963. He had a long career in the airline industry and had the opportunity to work in: Springfield, Illinois; Denver, Colorado; Grand Island; and Newark, New Jersey. Gary also operated a dairy farm and tended to crops west of Dannebrog.

He was united in marriage to Vicki L. Scofield on July 3, 1965. From this marriage they were blessed with two children: Brent and Brandee.

Gary was an avid sports enthusiast and was a Husker and Denver Broncos fan. He was his grandchildren’s biggest fan when it came to watching them compete.

Gary is survived by his son, Brent (Monica) Madsen of Omaha; daughter, Brandee Welty of Grand Island; grandchildren, McCall (Thomas) Feulner of Erie, Pennsylvania, Maxwell Madsen of Lincoln, and Paislee Welty of Grand Island; brothers, Robert (Theresa) Madsen of Wheatland, Wyoming and Ken (Peggy) Madsen of Wilmington, North Carolina; as well as many nieces; nephews; and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his parents.