Madelyn "Maddie" E. (Salmon) Ostrand

"This is my Obit and I don't care what you do with it, I'm out of here! You are the ones left to worry about cholesterol and sun screen."

I was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin on July 3rd, 1924 at 10 am – spent a happy childhood in Milwaukee graduating from Wauwatosa East High School.

I married my first love Richard LaManna in 1942 as we were preparing for World War II. I lost him to the U.S. Air Force in Italy in 1944, but he left me a baby boy Jerry – that saved my life.

After 2 years of widowing and mothering, God sent me Bob Ostrand to save me again. We married in 1946 in Sturgeon Bay and celebrated 53 years together. We had 7 more children over 20 years happily – Susan (Steve) McClellan, Linda Giglio, Mark (Ellen), Clark “Poncho” (Aurora), Craig (Marge), Jill (Mike) Harding, and Cris (Kathy) Ostrand. Since early childhood I had always dreamed of having lots of babies – dream accomplished!

Love makes the world go around and I’ve had my share to give and receive. I learned to sew from my Mother and to paint from Aunt Alice, never passed up a bridge game, a crossword or jigsaw puzzle, loved tennis and golf and to take long walks. The past 20 years have been volunteer time to pay back the blessings I have been given. Blessings like 13 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren – with more on the way. Who could ask for more? Love them dearly.

I was preceded in death, and now reunited with my parents Helen Melissa (Vandermark) and Alvin Clemons Salmon, baby brother Alton Edsel (Bobby), brother Clarence Lester (Sam) Salmon, my sisters Florence Elizabeth Showalter, Carolyn Lenore Cooper, and our son Clark “Poncho” Drew Ostrand, 3 daughters Linda Eleanor Giglio, Jill Roberta Harding, and Susan Harvette McClellan, my 2 husbands Richard Frank LaManna and Robert Allen Ostrand, and special relation Ann (Carlsen) and Joe Desire White.

I was given the gift of life for 101 years and I now give it back. I was a very lucky woman to have had 2 husbands and 8 fantastic children Jerry, Susan, Linda, Mark, Craig, Clark, Jill and Cris for which I thank God (and Bob). He was the rock of our family and I could not have made it without him. I’ll be with him now with a smile on my face and joy in my heart.

Happy to have been with you all these years.

XOXO Mom & Maddie

P.S. Now I get to see what God looks like - lucky me.

Epilogue from Maddie’s family:

Maddie would be the first to tell you that she simply “gave back,” but it was much more than that. There was rarely a volunteer role she didn’t step into—whether through the P.E.O. Sisterhood, Crossroads, Loaves and Fishes. Backpack Buddies, or the Midwest Distribution Center. Her love of watercolor painting – inspired by her Aunt Alice – led her to volunteer work at the Miller Art Museum, where she served on the committee board and as a desk attendant. Maddie was honored as Volunteer of the Year with the Golden Heart Award in 2022.

She didn’t talk much about service; she just showed up and did it. At Sturgeon Bay United Methodist Church, she was a constant presence, from teaching Sunday School to becoming part of the Deborah Circle later in life. Well into her late 90s, she showed up at spring clean-up, rake in hand, ready to get to work before anyone else.

Maddie also left out just how competitive she was. Maddie didn’t just enjoy bridge, tennis, and golf—she played to win, and often did. A formidable bridge player and golf tournament winner, she brought that same edge and energy to everything she did. That spirit lives on today in the family she built—most visibly in her sons’ annual golf game, where the stakes, the stories, and the laughter would make her proud.

Her favorite day of the year was her birthday—a reason, in her view, to gather everyone together, celebrate fully, and enjoy the moment. In that spirit, Maddie’s life will be celebrated July 3rd on her birthday, at the United Methodist Church, just as she would have wanted—surrounded by family, friends, and her community. Details to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to PEO Chapter DF (c/o Jackie Mathein, 6126 Gordon Road, Sturgeon Bay WI 54235), the Miller Art Museum (107 S 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235; https://secure.givelively.org/donate/miller-art-center-foundation-inc), or the United Methodist Church (836 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235; https://sturgeonbayumc.org/https://sturgeonbayumc.org/).

Huehns Funeral Home, Inc. & Door County Crematory LLC in Sturgeon Bay, are caring for Maddie and her family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Maddie may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.HuehnsFuneralHome.com.

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