Donald (Don) Charles Madison, age 77, a resident of Wichita, Kansas, went to his Heavenly home, Tuesday, November 29, 2022. He was born November 23, 1945, in Wichita, Kansas, the son of Charles W. Madison and Mary E. Alliston Madison. Don grew up in Wichita and graduated from East High School in 1963. He graduated in 1970 with a BS in Agricultural Economics from K-State University. After graduating, he worked as feed salesman. While making a sales call at the Fursman Ranch near, Welda, Kansas, Don got acquainted with the rancher’s daughter, Sharon. A relationship began and they were married August 8, 1970 at the First Christian Church in Garnett, Kansas. Don and Sharon made their home in Parsons, Kansas, and later owned and operated their own farm near Erie, Kansas from 1973 to 1982. In 1979, began a career with the USDA. His career moved the family to Oakley and Seneca, Kansas, and finally to Iola, Kansas, where he remained until his retirement in 2006. When he was twelve, Don accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. Church was always an important part of his family’s life. While in Iola, Don was a member of the First Baptist Church where he served in several leadership capacities. After moving to Wichita, he became an active member of Immanuel Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon and volunteered his time with various ministries of the church. He was also a member of Gideons International for many years. In his spare time, he enjoyed traveling and camping as well as woodworking but above all he enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s many activities. Don will be remembered for having a servant’s heart. He always put others’ needs above his own. His family finds comfort knowing that he is now in the presence of Jesus.
Survivors include his wife, Sharon, of the home and his three children, Joan Kramer (Tim) of Wichita, Tom Madison (Kitty) also of Wichita and Karen Traynor (Kip) of Walnut Cove, North Carolina, and eight grandchildren; Ashley Kramer, Catherine, Sam, and Elizabeth Madison and Robert, Rowan, Rachel and Rafe Traynor. Also surviving are a brother, Robert Madison (Beverly) of Goodland, Kansas, and a sister, Maratha Nash (Paul) of Oxford, Kansas, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Sylvia, and his in-laws, Bob and Francis Fursman.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, December 6th at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 S. Topeka Ave., Wichita, Kansas. The family will receive friends from 10:30 A.M. until service time at the church. The service will be livestreamed on the church’s website at ibcwichita.com. A graveside service will be held later that afternoon at 2:30 at the Colony Cemetery in Colony, Kansas. Memorials are suggested to either Immanuel Baptist Church Future Building Fund or Gideons International and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.