I have known Adelaide (Addie) my entire life of 51 years. I met Addie at National City Christian Church as a youngster. Every year Addie would plan a church trip to Bethany Beach Christian Conference Center over Labor Day weekend. On one of those trips, she took pity on me as a wide-eyed onlooker at the card table and at the age of 9 taught me how to play bridge. She was very patient with me and I soon picked up the game and we would always be partners at Bethany Beach every year. Ever since that first time, my mother and I would go over Addie's house once or twice a month after church to play bridge all afternoon. Later on, Addie and I would play in some local tournaments. It was through bridge that Addie and I became great friends and I would always look forward to the next time I could play bridge with her as my partner. After a while, we also enjoyed other passions, such as miniature golf and bowling. Every year at Bethany Beach we would have to have a mini-golf outing or (if it was raining) a bowling match. In time she honored me by referring to me as her adopted nephew or Eric with a c in contrast with her brother Don's son Erik with a k. She was a very special person full of smiles, warmth, generosity, patience (especially that with me as her bridge partner), and love.

To Addie, bridge was more than just a card game. It was a way of life. She made partnerships throughout her life. She built strong bridges within the Navy. Through her commitment, dedication, persistence, and hard work, she is a plankowner to the most successful US Navy program, the Aegis shipbuilding program. She would tell me stories over the bridge table about how she was involved with a program that would revolutionize the Navy. And it has. Ten years after she retired from the government, I joined the Aegis program as the test director for ballistic missile defense. She was thrilled when I got the position and all of her colleagues spoke about her with the utmost admiration of her and her accomplishments. Even RADM Meyer (who was the Father of Aegis) asked that I give him a monthly report on Addie and what she was up to in retirement, which I did.

Addie also built strong partnerships and friendships within the church. Every Sunday, she dutifully sang in the choir usually sitting next to my mother and the music was always glorious. Addie also spearheaded the Thrift shop and led its management for many years allowing for low income folks to purchase goods at the church. The local community was very thankful for Addie's commitment to the Thrift shop and enjoyed her smile when they visited. Addie also had numerous close friends at National City. All loved her dearly and we share many fond memories of her as well as all the wonderful times together.

Addie has been a dear friend over the years and was always a joy to be with. She was always smiling and incredibly generous. I loved her dearly. She would celebrate Christmas with me and my family every year either before or after going to Iowa for Christmas. She and I would make gifts for each other with puzzles which would have to be solved before the gift could be opened. She would also always make me a special batch of oatmeal raisin cookies which were the best tasting cookies ever! Christmas was a very special time with Addie.

I will always remember with a loving spirit my Aunt Addie.

Eric Hedlund

Adelaide was a member of the Women's Bible Study for many years. She shared her knowledge with us when presenting Bible studies for the group. She was well respected and loved by the group. We missed not having her with us when she could no longer come. We were fortunate to be able to know her.

Thanks for sharing her with us! God bless your family.

Lue Puhrman

I first met Adelaide in late June 1977, during a "Program Review" of a project in support USN RADM Wayne E. Meyer, the "Father" of the AEGIS Weapon System. I had just joined a company after completing work on my doctorate...but the PR did not go well, at all, and we were thrown out of the office. Adelaide immediately came to our defense and promised Adm. Meyer that the project would be turned around. With her knowledge and skills, it was, and the next PR went well. I believe she was the only person who could stare down WEM/FOA. And her encyclopedic knowledge of Navy weapons served her well as she prepared a detailed History of the Aegis Program. I worked for and with her for the next 8 years, and we continued to stay in touch--she even called me one of her "nephews," high praise, indeed--when she moved back home. She was a very good boss, a valuable mentor, a dear friend, and simply one of the nicest people I've met. She is already missed, greatly.

Adelaide was perhaps the most gracious woman I have ever known. My association with her was as a defense contractor who had business with her in the great Aegis shipbuilding fleet. She obviously was from very good midwest stock and carried herself with dignity, good will, charm, and brilliance. She was also a trail blazer as a youing woman working in the engineering discipline in a male driven military environment. Through sheer force of will Adelaide garnered the trust and respect of her male counterparts and became one of them. My Wife, Kathy, and I had a most memorable day with her while participating in a Cruiser Christening at Bath Iron Works in Maine. We spent the day touring the quaint coastal towns and delighted in her wonderful company. Adelaide was truly one of a kind and her demeanor was an inspiration and humbling experience. God bless Adelaide Madsen as she indeed blessed us with her considerable presence. Chris

Aunt Ad was a real pioneer for women and a great role model for us all. Her college degree in the male dominated field of math showed her determination to follow her own path. And after an accomplished career with the Department of the Navy, Ad continued to explore the world in her extensive travels. Ad was a wonderful conversationalist as she shared her many memories of her trips. Ad was a giving caring person who appreciated her family and friends always. She was a special lady who will be remembered with love and admiration by all the lives she touched.

I spent 10 years singing at National City and have many fond memories of Addie. She was a light in the choir and we all enjoyed her company very much. My deepest sympathies to her family. I will cherish my memories of Addie singing and especially at Bethany Beach. God Bless you in this time.

Aunt Ad was a very special Great Aunt for me and will be missed dearly and remembered fondly. I will always remember her kind and generous spirit and sharp intellect. She always wrote some of the best Christmas essays as part of our family tradition and I looked forward to hearing her stories and memories about our family history and heritage. She had a beautiful laughter that could light up a room. I always enjoyed visiting her in D.C. and later in Iowa City. I loved hearing about all of her exciting adventures and travels. She was a brave and inspiring woman who will be missed and loved always.

I do not know the exact origin of the following story, but I know the result. Apparently when I was young, the adults were having a discussion (maybe sharing a joke?) concerning Bohemians. Alledgedly, I asked if Ad was a Bohemian. She got a big laugh out of that and enjoyed telling that story over the years. It also became our special bond, as we were the only two Bohemians in the family. Ad would sign her cards to me as Aunt Ad, B.A. (Bohemian Aunt), and I would sign mine as Erik, B.N. (Bohemian Nephew). I will miss Aunt Ad's sense of humor.

We shared dolls, jacks, and jump ropes. Every Christmas is a memory of sharing and joy.

I have fond memories of Ad as I was growing up. She was an inspiration to me.

To Adelaide's Family,

You are in my thoughts and prayers in the passing of Adelaide! I bowled with her through the University Club Bowling and was a friend and "sister" of her's in P.E.O., Chapter KP. She was quite a lady and I enjoyed her friendship!

Adelaid was a member of Chapter KP, P.E.O. Sisterhood, in Iowa City. I remember clearly a program she did for the group several years ago about her travels in Scotland and her fondness for Edinburgh. She was an inspiration for all of us and we will miss her.