Obituary
Madeleine Claire Ettwein left this world to join Mom, Dad, and sister Ardith on March 19, 2025. She passed away peacefully after an event-filled life of almost 82 years that included a fight against Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and diabetes the last several years.
Madeleine was born in May 1943 in Flint, Michigan to father Alton "Al" Ettwein and mother Phyllis Ettwein. She was born smack-dab in the middle of World War II, while Dad was assigned to a PBY Catalina flying boat crew and Mom held down the home front. Madeleine was raised in Kalamazoo's Oakwood neighborhood and attended Oakwood Elementary and Oakwood Junior High. She attended Kalamazoo Central High until the family moved to a farm in south Portage in 1958. As a girl, Madeleine enjoyed family trips, and as a young lady, she enjoyed traveling with Mom, including a visit to Expo '67 in Montreal as well as New England and Mexico. She also enjoyed several visits with Mom's brother, our Uncle Roger, in California.
Madeleine graduated from Portage High School in 1961 and then studied Art at Western Michigan University. She was a talented artist and had a great eye for beautiful artwork and décor. She enjoyed designing and tending to the beautiful flower gardens and trees in her yard. For many years, she lived in a post-World War II Lustron steel house, and attended the Lustron owners convention in Columbus, Ohio. She worked at Cunningham Drug Store at Southland Mall in the early '60s and in the Drapery Department at Sears on Crosstown Parkway in Kalamazoo before beginning a 38-year career at National Water Lift (now Parker Hannifin), making parts for America's aerospace defense program as well as for projects Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo, helping to land a dozen American astronauts on the Moon more than 50 years ago. She made many long-time friends at NWL.
Madeleine was preceded in death by father Alton Ettwein, mother Phyllis Ettwein, sister Ardith Ettwein, and nephew Benjamin Ettwein. She is survived by brother Bruce (Barbara) Ettwein and Alton "Tony" (Molly) Ettwein, nephews Brian (Erin) Ettwein and Samuel Ettwein, niece Catherine "Katy" Ettwein, and great-nieces Kendall and Emery Ettwein.
A private service will take place.
Please visit Madeleine's webpage to share condolences and memories with her family at https://www.Langelands.com