Madonna L. Blackburn

Madonna Lee Blackburn, 72, of Medford, died Friday, September 30, 2022 at Clark County Healthcare Center in Owen, with her husband by her side and while under the care of Hope Hospice.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, October 12 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Stetsonville with Fr. Patrick McConnell officiating, with lunch following at the Centennial Hall.

Visitation will be from 12 p.m. until the time of service at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated and may go to the Sacred Hearth Youth or to the Holy Rosary Youth.

Madonna was born January 13, 1950 in Sterling, IL to Howard and Pauline (Andreson) Young.  She grew up in Clinton, Iowa and graduated from Clinton High School.  She earned her Nursing degree from Clinton Community College. Later while working full-time and raising four kids, she attended UW-Oshkosh earning her BSN in Nursing.

On August 10, 1974, she married Ron Blackburn in Clinton.  The love they shared was strong and built on faith and commitment. They moved to the Medford area to farm and raise their family. Madonna worked as a nurse at Memorial Health Center in Medford, then at the Stanley Hospital and then went to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield to work in the Critical Care Unit, the nursing job she was born to do. 

Over the years, Madonna trained many other nurses and had a great impact on those she taught, as well as those she served as patients.  She was well respected by the medical staff and loved by patients and their families, as she would advocate for her patients care and dignity.  Once she was no longer able to work in critical care, she became the first ultrasound nurse at Abiding Care in Medford. 

Although she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, she never lost her nursing skills and was lovingly referred to as the “3rd nurse on staff” while at Clark County.  She was always caring for other residents and helping the nursing staff.  Even as the disease progressed, she never forgot her husband, Ron or the love she had for her family. 

To say Madonna was proud of her family was an understatement!  She loved attending her grandchildren’s events, enough to switch her work schedule around so she could be at them more often.  She also enjoyed reading and gardening and had the most beautiful roses.  She was a talented artist and would draw, paint and etch treasured gifts for her friends and family.   

She will be dearly missed by her husband, Ron of Medford; children, Michelle (Heath) Poehler of Westboro, Michael (Deana) Blackburn of Bennettsville, SC, Matthew Blackburn and Mackenzie “Mac” (Tresa) Blackburn, all of Medford; a sister, Lorraine Dawdy of Roodhouse, IL; eight beloved grandchildren, Samantha (fiancé Adam Klein) Poehler, Cassandra and Oscar Poehler, Bryce, Lydia, Autumn, Ike, and Michael Dean Blackburn; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and three siblings, Vi, Ron and Kay.

Madonna’s selfless nature lives on…her body was donated for teaching and research in hopes of helping others going into the medical profession, including several of her grandchildren.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to the staff at Clark County Healthcare for being Madonna’s second family and taking excellent care of her; and to Hope Hospice who provided care and dignity in her final days.

Hemer-Pickerign Funeral & Cremation Services of Medford and Rib Lake is serving the family. Online condolences can be left at www.hemerfuneralservice.com.

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