Name: Visitation for Irene Madar
Start: 2018-02-02T23:00:00.000Z
End: 2018-02-03T02:00:00.000Z
Location: Howe-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services - Dearborn

Madar, Irene Irene Katherine (Reuter) Madar, 96, of Dearborn, passed away Wednesday, January 24, 2018. She was born on September 26, 1921 in Belleville, MI, the daughter of Anthony and Ida (Theisen) Reuter. She graduated from Belleville High School in 1939, from Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University) in 1943 with a Bachelor's degree and subsequently with a Master's degree both in Education. As an undergraduate at Eastern, Irene was on the swim team and set several University swimming records. In 1945, she went to work for the Dearborn Public Schools as an Elementary Physical Education Teacher where she was employed until her retirement in 1980. In recognition of her 35 years of service, the playground at Nowlin Elementary School in Dearborn was named in her honor in 1982. In her youth, Irene was an avid sportswoman, particularly enjoying swimming, baseball and basketball. She was an accomplished genealogist and was active in the Dearborn Historical Society and the Dearborn Genealogical Society. Much of her genealogy research is on file with the Burton Historical Library in Detroit, the Dearborn Historical Society and at the Library of Michigan in Lansing. Irene was principally responsible for establishing St. Alphonsus Cemetery as a Michigan Historical Site. She enjoyed many of the craft arts including sewing, caning, quilting, mosaic, and canning. Irene was a long-time Dearborn resident and member of St. Sebastian's and subsequently St. Alphonsus Catholic Churches. She married Alexander W. Madar on June 19, 1948, who passed away in 1993. She is survived by her daughter Gail (Robert) Perkins of West Bloomfield, MI, and her son Alexander (Wendy) Madar of Euless, TX, grandchildren Erik (Sara) Perkins, Melanie (Justin) Rogin, Jacqueline Perkins and Mark Perkins, four great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her sister Doreen Kasonovich and her brothers Louis and Anthony Reuter. The immediate family will receive friends and other relatives at Howe-Peterson Funeral (22546 Michigan Ave, Dearborn) from 6:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. on Friday, February 2, 2018 with a Rosary beginning at 8:00 P.M. Irene's life will be celebrated in a mass of resurrection at St. Alphonsus – St. Clement Catholic Church (13540 Gould St, Dearborn) at 11:00 A.M. (instate 10:30 A.M.) on Saturday, February 3, 2018. Her cremated remains will be interred in St. Hedwig Cemetery in Dearborn Heights at a later date. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, all donations be made to Angela Hospice Home Care, Inc. (angelahospice.org) www.howepeterson.com

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Published by Heritage Newspapers from Jan. 29 to Jan. 31, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Irene Madar

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12 Entries

Mary Stanesa

January 18, 2021

Remembering you, Miss Madar, 3 years since your passing. Over 50 years since I’ve had you as my elementary gym teacher at DuVall! You will not be forgotten by this “little Tom Boy”, who loved your gym classes & the activities you had us do. Memory Eternal! ☦

Shirley

September 3, 2018

Irene was my 3rd cousin on her fathers side. Irenes great-grandma Elizabeth Korte 1831-1900 was a sister to my great-grandpa Wilhelm Korte 1836-1878. They emigrated together from Germany to Dearborn in 1847, with their parents and 4 of their other siblings.

I suspect much (maybe all) of my original knowledge about our Korte ancestors in Germany came from Irenes amazing research. Irene in the early 1990s apparently shared some of her research with my 1st cousin who was working on our Korte family history, which he shared with our extended family. Now Im continuing my Korte research with Irenes work, plus my cousin's work, as my foundation.

Thank you for sharing in Irenes obituary the places where her research is on file. I expect shed be pleased about that! It tells me where to look for more information. As someone else said, Irene did fabulous genealogy research and published her findings so they are available for future generations. Much gratitude.

Jim Madar

February 22, 2018

We just heard about the death of Aunt Irene. The family owes her a lot of thanks for all the time she spent working on the family tree and the wonderful book that she made. I do not have the address of Gail or Alex Jr. but you all have our heartfelt feeling of love and gratitude for having known her.
Love Frances and Jim Madar, 8600 West Lane #152 Stockton, ca 95210 Jim is the son of brother Joseph Madar

Patricia Duva

February 20, 2018

I ran across Irene's death notice while I was researching some things about my mother, Maryon Plesha Duva, on line. My mom was also an education major at Michigan State Normal College, also graduated in 1943, and was a physical education teacher in Detroit. Irene and Alex were my youngest sister's godparents. I remember them as being a gracious and lovely couple. When my mom died in 2002, Irene came to the funeral and shared stories about their college days with me, stories I am glad to know. I am so sorry for your loss. May she rest in peace.

Mary K. Stanesa

February 2, 2018

Miss Madar' was my FAVORITE gym teacher! (1960-66 at DuVall Elementary) (We always called her Miss. Who knew she was married! LOL!) Her classes were joy in movement for this little girl who loved to run ♀, climb ♀, & play ♂! She allowed the Tom Boy in us to have free expression! And for that I am eternally grateful! Dodge ball, Presidential Physical Fitness Awards, kite flying unit, square dancing , Chicken Fat warm-ups, . . . Never to be forgotten! You enriched my childhood immensely, & for that I am forever grateful! Rest In Peace Miss Madar! My heartfelt sympathy to your family & friends.

Jacky Perkins

February 2, 2018

Most people don't get to have the special gift of knowing their Grandparents beyond their own childhood years. To appreciate them through the lens of adulthood is a rare gift. I am so lucky for the gift of time and honored to get to know the many layers of a hard working and loving woman Irene who I got to call My Grandma. I have so many special memories of my time spent with Grandma. The things she taught, traditions she repeated to be past on, traits she instilled, and the wisdom shared of life lived well. I love you Grandma, you will always have a special place in my heart and in my mind and spirit. Rest in Peace. Jacky

Roger DeShetler

February 2, 2018

I remember Mrs. Madar from Nowlin Elementary School. She complemented my grade as being very athletic, a comment I've never forgotten. Several years later I had the pleasure of coaching her son Alex in football at Edsel Ford High School. RIP Mrs. Madar.
Roger A. DeShetler

Lindy (Herzinger) Wilson

February 1, 2018

My grandmother Rose Theisen was a first cousin to Irene's mother. I was only able to discover my heritage through Irene's amazing research. My grandmother had died in childbirth having my father so I didn't even know her name until finding Irene. We travelled from Ontario and were even able to meet Irene and go over the family tree and fill in a lot of blanks. With Irene's maps and notes we travelled to Germany this past summer to visit the villages the Theisen's emigrated from and actually met a Theisen family there. Now, because of Irene's extensive research generations to come after me will have all this family history which would have been lost forever. Irene was also so thoughtful to make sure that she had her son in law send me all her research on my grandmother's mother's side so I would have both lines even as she was being moved into hospice.
Incredible woman and I only wish I had met her and this extensive Theisen family years ago.
Lindy, Neil and Kelsey Wilson
Chatham, Ontario, Canada

Bobby Frakes

February 1, 2018

I really liked Mrs. Madar. She preferred us athletic and well behaved boys over the girls. A tall drink of water with a loud voice, but very nice. My Nowlin Elementary gym teacher from 1959-1966. RIP

Susan Gomolak

January 29, 2018

Mrs. Madar was my gym teacher in elementary school and I never forgot her. I actually was thinking about her recently and I am so sorry to hear this news. She was a wonderful person and I am so glad I had her as a teacher at Nowlin Elementary back in the 1960''s and early 1970's. God bless her and and her family. May she Rest In Peace and God bring comfort to her family.

Stephan Madar

January 27, 2018

I'm so sorry to hear of Aunt Irene's passing. My condolences to her family and friends. When I was a boy, she gave me the genealogy book she assembled on the Madar family, and it made an enormous impact on me. She linked my generation to the past and I am grateful to her for it. She was warm and generous person to me and I will miss her. Love.