Dr. James "Doc" R. Madsen, 78, of Minden, passed away on Sunday, October 12, 2025, at CHI Health – Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 17, 2025, at Minden United Methodist Church with Rev. Kayla Mangrich. The service will be streamed to the church's YouTube and Facebook pages. Inurnment will be held following the service at the Minden Cemetery with military honors presented by the Minden American Legion, Heartwell Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Campbell American Legion in conjunction with the United States Marine Corps Funeral Honors Team. A celebration of life open house will be held later that day at Windmill Studios in Minden beginning at 1:30 p.m. A memorial book signing with family present will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at Craig Funeral Home in Minden. Memorials in Jim's honor are kindly suggested to the Kearney County Veterans Memorial Fund or to CHI Health – Good Samaritan Cancer Center in Kearney. Arrangements are under the care of Craig Funeral Home in Minden.

Dr. James "Doc" Robert Madsen was born on January 20, 1947 to Robert and Marjorie Madsen in Minden, Jim was the only child of Robert and Marjorie. He was baptized and confirmed at the United Methodist Church in Minden. Jim received the highest honor in the Boy Scouts, which is Eagle Award. Jim loved golf so he helped organize a golf team in 1963 for Minden High School with Coach Sam Somerhalder. The team went on to win the Nebraska Class B State Championship for Minden in 1964. To this day Minden has not had another boys' team win the championship for the school. Golf always remained a lifelong passion in Jim's life.

Jim was so proud of his parents; Bob was a mason and laid the bricks in the front of Pioneer Village back in the 1950's. His mom Marge was the secretary to the Chamber of Commerce for over 26 years. They also owned a shoe store in Minden for many years.

Jim attended the University of Nebraska for a couple years before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in September of 1967. He became a member of the 3rd Tank Battalion for the 3rd Division and served 10 months on tour duty in Vietnam. He served as a field radio tech.

After returning to the United States, Sgt. Madsen married his lovely wife, Iola Gregg, in March of 1970 in Las Vegas, NV. Jim, Iola and her son Clark were sent to New Mexico for burial duty for the Marine Corps.

Sgt, Madsen also was involved with the Marine Corps Reserve Training Center until 1971 when he received his honorable discharge. On January 29, 1972, Jim received the terrible news that his father had passed at the young age of 49 years old.

In 1973 Jim enrolled in the pre-veterinary program at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Besides his studies, Jim had many part time jobs in Lincoln to help him get through the program, along with Iola working too.

In 1977, Jim enrolled at the graduate school of Veterinary Medicine for another three years of studies at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS.

In 1980, Jim became Dr. James Robert Madsen, DVM; all his hard work paid off, his dream came true. He became a veterinarian in the field of large animals. Iola and Jim returned to Minden and built their home and business near Norman, NE.

After starting up his business Jim became one of the Board of Directors for Glennwood Telephone Company in Blue Hill for over 27 years.

The Madsen Veterinary Service was up and running for 25 years, 24 hours a day, 12 months of the year, until he retired after the passing of his loving wife, Iola, from cancer.

He wanted to make the world a better place through cattle and agriculture. He worked in the Campbell area from the age of 14, farming with Ned and Rob Raun and Del Kopf. After the passing of Iola, Jim once again worked for Ned Raun with farming and the feed lot.

In 2003, Jim saw again a former high school classmate from the class of 1965. Virgina (Virgin) McIntyre who was living in Hastings. Virginia was one of the Art Teachers at Hastings High, where she taught for 17 years until she retired.

Jim and Virginia (Ginny) were married August 20, 2006, at the Minden United Methodist Church at 6pm after the Minden Country Club Member Guest Golf Tournament, which Jim won that day, so a win, win for all.

Ginny family includes a daughter, Jill Shipley and her husband Scott, along with their children, Jacey and husband Christopher Hill, and Raleigh Shipley; son, Alexander McIntyre and wife Michelle along with their children, Richard and Patrick. Both Scott and Alex are retired Corporals in the U. S. Marines. We ae a proud family of 3 Marines who have served their country with Honor and pride.

Later on, Jim worked for the Minden Country Club mowing their course for many years. This was the perfect job for Jim, when he finished work, he could play golf. Golf was not just a game, it was serious business for Jim. He made lots of friendships over the years playing golf. If you ever needed Jim, he was usually at the golf course.

In 2023 his beloved mother, Marjorie, passed at the age of 99 years old.

Jim has always been active and involved with various organizations: A lifetime member with the American Legion in Campbell Post #619 for 55 years as of 2025, was a member of the Kearney County Veterans Service Board and served as a Chairman for 10 years, Nebraska Veterinarian Medical Association for 48 years as of 2025, Lifetime Member of the Kansas State Veterinarian College, and Franklin Cattleman's Assoc. of Kearney County, and was a member of Minden Country Club.

He served as Color Guard for the Memorial Day in Minden and surrounding communities for over 20 years. He was proud of serving his country as a Vietnam Marine, that he honored this by having his pickup truck license plate read "Danam". Jim would always say what was on his mind, like it or not. He was very stubborn at times but always honest, loyal and a great member of our family. Give him a job and he gave 110%. Very intelligent but very rigid with his ideas, a loyal friend and would do anything for them. He was very kind and loving to Ginny and his mother and family, a very responsible and caring protective husband, son, step-father, step-grandfather, and step-great grandfather.

Jim was one of a kind, he will be missed by his wife, family, friends, many nieces and nephew. So now go play a lot of golf in heaven, Jim, with your friends and family. A final hoorah to our Marine with all our love, until we meet again.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Marjorie and Bob Madsen; wife, Iola Madsen; step-sons, Clark Gregg and Mark Gregg; grandparents, Sara and Mads Madsen, Theo and Ora Parker; aunt and uncles, Betty Witte, Glenn Witte, and Royce Parker.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Virginia; step-children, Jill (Scott) Shipley of Shickley, Alexander (Michelle) McIntyre of Orlando, FL; step-grandchildren, Jacey (Christopher) Hill, Raleigh Shipley, Patrick McIntyre, Richard McIntyre, Destini (Jose) Flores; 5 step-great-grandchildren; as well as a host of extended relatives and close friends.

Tributes and memories can be shared with the family at www.craigfunerals.com .