Barry MADDEN

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MADDEN: Barry Madden was born April 1, 1939 in Rivers, Manitoba. He was the oldest son of Stuart and Gladys Madden. He spent all of his life in Rivers, through grade school to grade ten. He attended the Brandon Agricultural and Homemaking School in 1955 - 56, then on to the University of Manitoba 1956-57, graduating with a diploma in agriculture. Barry was a member of the Rivers Air Cadets through which he obtained his pilot's license at the age of sixteen. He took his dad, his brothers and friends up flying many times. As a cadet, he also won several awards for rifle marksmanship. Barry was also an accomplished violinist. He studied the violin under Alex Whyte and played for many years. Barry was a skilled welder, mechanic and machinist. He farmed and worked in the repair shop with his dad and brother for over forty years. Barry and Lynn were married in 1966. Together they raised three children: Sherry, Holly and Stephen. Nothing meant more to him than his family, his grandchildren and his home. He was so proud of each of his kids, what they accomplished and who they have become. Sherry did all the flower arrangements, Stephen made the metal flower container for the gravesite, Holly wrote her thoughts and read them at the service. Holly's words: "I have been to numerous services and am always amazed at the number of "great people" that have touched our lives. Listening to the eulogies, I sometimes wondered if I was at the right funeral. Focusing on positive traits and accomplishments of a person is good but they need to be balanced with a sense of honesty. Long before Dad was diagnosed with PSP, he struggled withthe disease of alcoholism. He couldn't tell us why he drank and when he did, he was a totally different person. He said and did things that were hard on all of us. He won the fight against alcohol. We were so proud of him and though those times were difficult, he knew that we loved him and forgave him. He taught all of us kids, how to drive and how to water ski. Some of us took longer to learn than others but he would drive the boat until we wereready to stop. Dad was proudest when he could pull two at a time behind the '80 Merc. Dad loved Dodge vehicles, trucks had to be Dodge Rams. My firstcar was a '67 Coronet. After putting my car into a roadside dugout, Dad had it running that afternoon, knocking a lot, but running. He and I worked all summer rebuilding the engine. By the time I left for university, it was running smoothly. Dad went hard at all things, good and bad. We will always remember and love him for it." Barry's most prized possession was his brown dodge truck. He got it as a standard 6 but he and Stephen changed it over to an automatic V8. How you can get 2 tons of wood on a half ton; but they did it every Saturday, every summer, for as long as Stephen was at home. AsBarry got older, we as a family knew that something was wrong. He had trouble walking, was falling, losing strength, and other little changes. In March of 2007, he was diagnosed with a rare progressive brain disorder, PSP, which would rob him of his mobility, strength, memory and eventually his speech and ability to swallow. He fought long and hard, never complained and kept his sense of humor to the end. He just wanted to come home. The end came peacefully on Monday, January 25, 2010, with his family by his side. He will live on in our hearts and memory. Barry is survived by his wife of forty-three years, Lynn; daughters Sherry (Ron) Mistal of McCreary, Manitoba, and Holly (Scott) Bodnarchuk of Beausejour, Manitoba; son Stephen (Charity) Madden of Clanwilliam, Manitoba; grandchildren: Amara and Kyra Mistal, Curtis and Kadence Madden. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters, their spouses and children, several cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family and mother-in-law Marg Black. He was predeceased by hismother, father and grandparents; several aunts, uncles and father-in-law, Jim Black. In keeping with Barry's wishes, a private family graveside service was held on January 28, 2010. Donations in memory of Barry may be made to the Rivers Personal Care Home, Box 428, Rivers, Manitoba, R0K 1X0 or to the Rivers Handi Transit, Box 520, Rivers, Manitoba, R0K 1X0. Expressionsof sympathy may be made at www.memorieschapel.com. Arrangements were with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre, 727-0330.

As published in Brandon Sun on Feb 06, 2010