Madonna Jean Tinker

Madonna Jean (Schmidt) Tinker, (94) passed away peacefully Saturday, January 15, 2022, at Accura Health Center in Cherokee, Iowa. Madonna was born on June 18, 1927, in Janesville, WI to Gotlieb (Henry) and Gladys (Volden) Schmidt. She grew up in the rural area of Viroqua, Wisconsin. Madonna attended one room schools during grade school. She graduated from Viroqua High School in 1946, and attended one year of college at LaCrosse State, LaCrosse, WI. She was united in marriage to Richard I. Tinker at Bad Axe Lutheran Church in rural Viroqua. Due to Richard’s career with the J.C. Penney Company, they lived in LaCrosse, WI, Ames, IA, Appleton, MN, and Redfield, SD. They moved to Cherokee, IA in 1963. Madonna worked part-time at State Farm Insurance for 18 years. She was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school. She was active in the ladies church organizations, was president of Women of the L.C.A., and also served as secretary of that organization. She was a member of the Cherokee Garden Club and served as treasurer. She served on the “Reach for Recovery” organization as a volunteer. She was a member of the Red Cross Board, serving out her husband’s term. Madonna stated that her real purpose in life was being a devoted wife and mother. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Tinker; daughter-in-law, Cindy Tinker; parents, Gotlieb and Gladys Schmidt; sister, Yvonne Kathleen Schmidt; brother, Arnold Schmidt; mother-in-law, Mary (Dedic Tinker) Hanson and father-in-law, Hully Hanson; sister-in-law, Martha Schmidt; brother-in-law, Andy Anderson; and nephews, Jerry Schmidt and Larry Anderson. She will lovingly be remembered by her sons, James (Janet) Tinker of Audubon, IA, and Joseph Tinker of Cherokee, IA; daughter, Renee (Tinker) Larson of Oshkosh, WI; grandchildren, Kristopher (Sarrah) Larson of Oshkosh, WI, Jenna Larson (Bob Poeschl) of Oshkosh, WI, Nathan (Wendy) Larson of Oshkosh, WI, William (Caroline) Tinker of Peoria, IL, and Matthew (Emily) Tinker of Peoria, IL; great-grandchildren, Diah, Kallum & Madrona Larson-Poeschl, Elia & Harper Larson, Alida & Kerstin Tinker, and Charlotte Tinker; sister and brother-in-law, Rebecca and Jim Larson of Viroqua, WI; sister-in-law, Dorothy (Tinker) Anderson of Winona, MN; and nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be Thursday, March 24, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at the Greenwood-Schubert Funeral Home in Cherokee with burial to follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held before the service at 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established to support the Cherokee community that has been dear to Madonna for many years. The family would also like to extend their appreciation to all the staff at Accura Healthcare of Cherokee for the wonderful care and love Madonna received while in their care.