Michael L Madsen

was well cared for by the staff of St. Rose Siena Hospital after a heart attack and subsequent

surgeries revealed further complications with his heart and lungs. He was a devoted husband

(47 years), father, grandfather, brother and friend to many.

Mike was born on January 23, 1944 in San Francisco, CA. As an infant, his father was deployed

in the Navy. Mike grew up there with his younger brother and sister and a wonderful extended

Russian family, summering on the Eel River where he loved to fish. He enlisted in the US Army

in 1967 and served in combat as an Army Medic with both the 2nd Battalion/39th Infantry

Regiment and the 5th Battalion/60th Mechanized Regiment of the 9th Infantry Division. He

demonstrated great courage under enemy fire while saving the lives of many men on the

battlefields of Binh Phuoc.

After returning from Vietnam, as a young adult, he worked at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, where he

met his bride in the summer of 1972. Mike and Millie were married on November 11 that year

and built a beautiful life together in Gardnerville, NV until moving to Las Vegas in 1990. He

continued to work in the casino industry as a Host and Manager at the Desert Inn, MGM Grand,

Rio and Stratosphere.

For many years he enjoyed tennis, golf, fishing and grilling for the kids, neighbors and friends.

In more recent years, he was involved in Celebrate Recovery and the men’s ministry of Green

Valley Christian Center. He received a 22 year “chip” to honor his sobriety and leadership this

past year. He loved taking Millie on dates and bringing all his Grandkids for ice cream and

family time together.

He will be remembered for his kindness, peaceful presence, hearty laughter and steadfast devotion to his kids and grandkids. His battlefield comrades will remember him as the

young man who selflessly attended their wounds and saved their lives. He passes down a

voracious love for reading, cheering for Bay Area sports teams, his commitment to prayer

and deep love for Jesus.

He is survived by wife Millie; son Mark; daughter Melissa and spouse Robert; six beautiful

grandchildren Levi, Bella, Annelise, Alexa, Ayla, Brenden; sister Carla Chapman and spouse Bob; sister-in-law Mary Jane and spouse Jonathan; brother-in-law George and spouse Kerrie

Anne; mother-in-law Alice Jane Gorishek; and many dear cousins, nieces, nephews and

friends.

He was preceded in death by mother Nadia (Nadine); father Carl; and brother Phil.

A Celebration of Life Service will be set for a date in early summer at Green Valley Christian Center and Memorial at Southern Nevada Veterans Cemetery in Boulder City, NV.

The family wishes to sincerely thank all who have called, visited and prayed with us in the midst

of chaotic times. We are peacefully trusting in God’s good plan for us.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Heart Association or to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.