Leaders of Multiple District 14 join with fellow members throughout the world in mourning the loss of Lions Clubs International Past President Wayne A. Madden.
On behalf of our International Director Larry L. Edwards and State Administrator Bob McComas, I share the following message.We ask each member of the 2019-2020 State Council to please share this sad news with the Lions, Lionesses and Leos in their district.
With deep regret must inform you that Wayne A. Madden, Past International President (2012-2013) passed away on May 30, 2020 from complications of cardiac arrest. He was 73 years old.
Originally from the town of Auburn, Indiana, USA, the late Past President Madden was influenced by old fashioned values of family and hard work. His small-town roots served him well in life; where he became well known and loved within in the community. During high school, the late Past President met his future wife Linda. They both went on to attend Manchester College and realized they shared many values and after graduation, they were married in September 1968 starting their life together.
His caring nature drove him to give back to his community. In 1984, when a letter from the Auburn Lions came in the mail asking him to join, he immediately said yes; it was the perfect opportunity to share his belief of helping people live better lives by providing needed services. His defining moment as a Lion was an eyeglass mission trip to Honduras in 1995, a decade after he became a Lion. A young man with a disability slowly made his way to the eyeglass tent. “He asked if I had a pair of sunglasses. He tried on a pair of sunglasses and got a big smile on his face. When you see service actually do something for somebody is when you really become a Lion,” he said.
Over the years he served as club president, club membership chairperson, district campus club chairperson, zone chairperson, region chairperson, state council chairperson and district governor. He served as Global Action Team Vice Chairperson, Global Membership Team, the Long Range Planning Committee, District & Club Service Committee, LCIF Executive Committee, LCIF Steering Committee and as LCIF Trustee. In addition, he served as a past president of the Indiana Lions Foundation. He served as a District Governor-elect Seminar faculty member five times, as Campaign SightFirst II sector coordinator for Multiple District 25 and as vice-chairperson of the Global Action Team.
Over the years his warm and friendly personality drew people of all walks of life to him. As President, he promoted the Reading Action Program; and especially enjoyed reading Dr. Seuss books to children around the world. In the spring of 2013, the late Past President Madden and Lions Clubs International hosted the Reading and Literacy Summit where leading literacy experts, researchers, educators, vision health providers, entrepreneurs, and civil society partners from around the world came together to explore the state of global literacy and the challenges and opportunities it represents. The goal of the summit was to develop plans to strengthen the capacity of the education sector and enhance community involvement to meet the needs of children, youth, and adults that face a variety of barriers to literacy. He also supported Operation Kid Sight in Indiana. His slogan In a World of Service, truly defined his desire to promote the work of Lions and peace throughout the world.
In recognition of his service to the association, the late Past President Madden received many awards, including the 100% Club President Award, Life Membership in the Association, Builder Key, Membership Advancement Key, Continuing Membership Bronze, Helping Hands Award, 30 and 35-year Monarch Chevrons, the Master Key and Senior Master Key Award, four Extension Awards, Donor Pin, Lion of Service Pin, Second Century Ambassador, an International President’s Leadership Medal, 15 International President’s Medals and the Ambassador of Good Will Award, the highest honor the association bestows upon its members. He was also a multi-level Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow. Additionally, the late Past President Madden was a Charter W.P. Woods Fellow, a Kentucky Colonel, a Duke of Paducah, a Helen Keller Fellow. In 2008, he was recognized for his humanitarian service by the governor of Indiana as a Sagamore of the Wabash, the highest honor the governor can bestow. In addition to his Lion activities, Past President Madden has been active in numerous professional and community organizations, including as member of the Auburn City Council.
The late Past President Madden enjoyed a successful career as teacher and businessman. He was well known and respected in the community and would often be found chatting with friends at the local hardware store about his much-loved subject – Classic Cars, especially his Corvette. His dedication to his spouse Linda and his daughters was unsurpassed. He was always there to encourage and support his family. When daughter Jennifer, then in college, secured an internship in Washington, D.C., he arranged to surprise her. “When I got off the plane in D.C. there was my dad. I was never so happy to see him in my life. I really needed that little transition of getting safely to where I was going to be,” she says. He cared for everyone as if they were part of his family. Everyone felt special in his presence and he will be remembered for his warmth and kindness always. He possessed the unique ability to draw people to him; making others feel comfortable with his genuine warmth and friendly sense of humor. He had a large presence with a soft caring heart.
His devoted family, spouse Linda, daughters and son in laws, Jennifer and Michael and Julia and Timothy 5 grandchildren, Lauren, Daniel, Owen, Miles and Max and extended family sisters and brother in laws, Diane and Roger and Debra and Greg appreciate your thoughts and prayers. A private family service will be held with a celebration of Life service to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the Feller and Clark Funeral Home of Auburn is assisting the family with Memorials that may be made to the ‘Madden Reading Action Fund’ to continue the fight against illiteracy in Indiana and sent to Feller and Clark Funeral Home, 1860 Center Street, Auburn, IN, phone1-260-572-1000. Condolence messages for the family may be left at the funeral home link Past International President Wayne A Madden