William Bernard "Bernie" Madden

Bernie was born on November 7, 1933 in Summerfield, Kansas to Catherine and William Patrick Madden. He came of age in Marysville, Kansas where he made lifelong friends and played baseball and football at Marysville High before heading to Benedictine College to play football in 1951. He served in Munich Germany as part of the Army’s peace-keeping forces in the Korean War before returning to Benedictine College. Bernie later attended Creighton University where he met the love of his life, Jackie, and the two were married in 1960. Jackie and Bernie built a life of service, devotion to one another and their six children, and to their family business.

They joined St. Ann Parish in 1963 where they raised their children. Bernie dedicated his time and energy to countless committees and parish councils and coached many teams through the years. His service to Catholic Education followed his children to Bishop Miege High School where he served in many ways, including the Foundation Board of Trustees until the time of his death. He held the Bishop Miege and St. Ann communities very close to his heart.

Bernie was the owner of Madden McFarland Interiors and took great joy in his work. He loved his employees and considered each one of them a part of his extended family. He took particular joy in mentoring the talents of others and encouraging their success. His sincerity and integrity in his business dealings endeared him to clients, employees and industry members, many of whom grew to become true friends.

Bernie will be remembered as a man who knew no strangers. He was eager to hear everyone’s story and never forgot a name or a face. His friends are countless in number. He lived by a few simple mottos, and shared easy advice to others both in business and in friendship. “Always do the right thing” was a favorite phrase of Bernie’s, a simple saying that he practiced every day.

Bernie was a note writer, a small gesture in one sense, but outsized in its effect on the recipient. He sent notes to friends and colleagues each week and urged others to do the same. Many in his life carry on this tradition.

Bernie is preceded in death by his beloved family members; his parents, William Patrick and Catherine Madden, his sister Mary Madden Fobes and brother-in-law Bob Fobes, and sister-in-law Sue Madden.

He is survived by his wife Jackie, and his children Michelle Madden (David) Miller, Michael (Kelly) Madden, Mary (Randy) Bryson, Denise (Frank) Jurden, Patrick (Kim) Madden, and Paul (Venessa) Madden. He is also survived by his grandchildren Christine Durham, Dawn and Mesmariah Hall, Liam, Harris and Jacqueline Bryson, Zac, Ava and Eli Jurden, Will, Joe and Lily Madden, Collin and Carson Wolf, Lena, Elise, Liv, and Lexi Madden, his brother Jim (Loretta) Madden, his brother Butch, and numerous nieces and nephews who loved their Uncle Bernie dearly.

His charitable work included, but was not limited to St. Ann Catholic Church, Bishop Miege Foundation Board of Trustees, Benedictine University and Abbey, The Catherin V Merrill Foundation, The Foundation for Religious Inclusive Education (FIRE), Mount St. Scholastica, Sister Servants of Mary, Sisters of Charity in Leavenworth, The Serra Club. He was a member of the VanGaurd Club, Rotary #13, and Knights of the Holy Sepulcher. Bernie was honored with numerous awards throughout his life, including The Herb Rome award at Bishop Miege, the Cross of the Order of St. Benedict, and the Deo Gratias Award from the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas.

Above all else, he loved his family, his Parish Community, his business, and his friends.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the physicians, nurses and staff from Shawnee Mission Medical Center who provided expert care and support throughout Bernie’s illness. And finally, our deepest thanks to those who cared so tenderly for Bernie in his final weeks of life: the caregivers from Sweet Life at Rosehill, the Catholic Community Hospice and the many dear friends whose prayers brought him such peace in the end.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to St. Ann Catholic Church, Bishop Miege High School, and Catholic Community Hospice.

A Rosary will be prayed on Monday, August 4th at 5:00 PM followed by a Visitation until 7 PM at St. Ann Catholic Church, 7231 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, August 5th, at 10 AM at St. Ann Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery at 83rd and Quivira.