Juul B Madson

Juul Benjamin Madson, 87, of Mankato, died Thursday, April 3, 2008, at Immanuel St. Joseph's Hospital. Funeral service is at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 7, 2008, at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, Mankato, with a burial in Somber, Iowa. Visitations will be held at 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 6, 2008, and one hour prior to the funeral service on Monday. Both will be held at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church. Memorials preferred to Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, Bethany Lutheran Seminary, and ISJ Foundation.

Juul Benjamin Madson was born to Norman and Elsie Madson on November 17, 1920 in Bode, Iowa. He became one of God's children through baptism at St. Olaf Lutheran Church. He later confirmed his faith publicly at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Princeton, Minnesota.

Following three years at Bethany High School, Juul graduated in 1938; he later graduated from Bethany Lutheran College in 1940. Following two years at Northwestern College in Watertown, Wisconsin, he returned to Bethany High School to teach German and coach the basketball team. He entered Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 1943 and by 1946 had entered the full time teaching and preaching ministry at churches in Northwood and Somber, Iowa. He was married that year to Clarice Elaine Huso. Juul and Clarice were blessed by God with nine children: Linda Kathleen Browning (Daniel), Mark Daniel Madson (Sharon), Paul Michael Madson (Karen), David Huso Madson (Jan), Jonathan Noel Madson (Sharen), Timothy Juul Madson (Susan), Matthew Abel Madson, Joseph Benjamin Madson (Tiann), and Jennifer Laura Pederson (Brian).

In 1954 Juul and Clarice and family moved to Tacoma, Washington where he served Lakewood Lutheran Church for seven years. In 1960 Juul was called to First American Lutheran Church in Mayville, North Dakota where he served faithfully for seven years. In 1968 he accepted a call to English Lutheran Church in Cottonwood, Minnesota, during which time he also served as the President of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. In 1970 Juul accepted a call to teach at Bethany Lutheran Seminary, where he was a professor of New Testament exegesis and various other courses for a total of 22 years. During this time he also served on the synod's Doctrine Committee (38 years), was the chaplain of Bethany Lutheran College, and a member of the Catechism Revision Committee. He also did graduate work at Mankato State University and at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.

Juul was an ardent fan of the games of basketball and baseball, and he was an avid and accomplished reader, writer, golfer and gardener. He loved his family and devoted endless hours to watching them develop and more importantly to showing them and pointing them to their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His diplomacy, wisdom, thoughtfulness, and dedication to God, his church, family, and friends made him an example for all of us to follow.

Juul is survived by his wife Clarice (62 years of marriage), eight children, 23 grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his sister Gudrun Moldstad and his son Paul. Juul died in the presence of his family at Immanuel St. Joseph's Hospital in Mankato, Minnesota, on April 3, 2008. He now worships in heaven before the throne of his Savior.

Blessed be his memory!