Madelyn Lucille Harmke
December 11, 1927 - October 28, 2009
Obituary
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Madelyn Harmke on October 28th, 2009.
Madelyn Lucille Holloway was born in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma on December 11th, 1927 to Mamie Dearstone. At the age of 10 Madelyn left her beloved Uncle Oliver and Aunt Aine and traveled by train to Washington with her mother. They settled in Skykomish and her mother married John ‘Pop’ Schmadecker. Madelyn and her parents later moved to Seattle where she graduated from Queen Anne High School.
Madelyn and Charles Harmke were married on May 25th, 1946 and they made their first home in Everett. During their early years together, Madelyn worked as a key-punch operator at Todd Shipyards. After moving to Seattle, she worked many years as a Medical Receptionist for Dr. Hamburger and Dr. Ozeroff.
She enjoyed singing tenor and traveling with the Sweet Adelines. After retirement, Madelyn and Charles traveled to Europe, Panama Canal and Mexico. Eventually they spent their winters in Mesa, AZ where they created new friendships. She never considered anyone a stranger, to her everyone was a friend and she loved meeting new people. Madelyn was the Assistant Wagon Master of the Elks RV Travel Club. She loved children and her happiest times were those spent being Nana to her grandchildren. She never turned down an invite to a game, recital or birthday celebration and loved camping and photographing her grandchildren. Madelyn was always the life of any party and a glow of strength who accepted everyone. She will remain in hearts forever of the lives she touched over the years.
Madelyn is survived by her devoted husband, Charles of 63 years and their two children and spouses, Craig and Debbie, Joan and Jeff, grandchildren, Derick, Sara and Chad Harmke, Alexander, Joel and Kayla, Hannah, and Andrew Phillips.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 on November 21st at Bonney-Watson Funeral Home, 900 SW 146th St., Burien, WA 98166.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to Children’s Hospital Commemorative Giving, Seattle Children’s Hospital Foundation, PO Box 50020, Seattle, WA 98145-5020 or on-line, https://secure.seattlechildrens.org/.
To the Harmke Family, May each of you find comfort in knowing that God is “near to those that are broken at heart; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.” Psalm 34;18 He has promised to soon “swallow up death forever…and wipe the tears from all faces.” Isaiah 25;8 Take care,
I was honored to have met Madelyn when she took a line dancing class with us at the Burien Senior Center. At the time I was pregnant with our second child, a girl, and I knew I wanted an “older” name, so I searched the Burien class roster for the perfect name. I came across the name Madelyn, but it wasn’t until Madelyn Harmke walked into our class, with that radiant smile and firey personality, that I KNEW she would be named after her. My daugher is now 12 and a birthday does not go by, nor will ever go by, without our hearts and thoughts turning to her namesake. May God bless you and your family during this difficult time.