Shawn Alvin Madsen

JEROME – Shawn Alvin Madsen was born on July 31, 1968, in Tremonton, Utah, to Budd Lavar (now deceased) and Tania Madsen. Shawn passed away Tuesday, October 28, at the age of 56, after bravely fighting cancer, leaving behind a lifetime of love, laughter, and strong family bonds.

Shawn grew up in Jerome, Idaho, where he spent the rest of his life surrounded by family and friends who loved him dearly. He was a devoted and caring brother to his seven siblings, Sonia (Wayne) Calico, Sandra (John) Esplin, Chad (Barbara) Madsen, Jason (Heather) Madsen, Sadie (Mike) Stanfield, Damon Madsen, and Adrian (Holly) Madsen.

Chad, Jason, and Shawn were close in age and shared countless memories growing up on the family farm. They worked hard and played even harder—making discoveries along the way, like learning that swinging from a tree like Tarzan isn’t as easy as it looks, football shouldn’t be played inside, cats don’t make good swimmers, and shaking a can of pop makes target practice a lot more exciting. Their bond was full of laughter, mischief, and brotherly love that lasted a lifetime.

When Shawn was about three or four years old, he had an imaginary friend named Big John, who would take him into the mountains to go snowmobiling and on adventures. He must have known even when he was little that he would go on many adventures as an adult.

Shawn worked hard and played hard. Farming was Shawn’s lifelong passion. It wasn’t always easy and sometimes it was frustrating, but he enjoyed it. When he wasn’t working, he had snowmobile and jet ski adventures while finding lasting friendship and fun.

Shawn would call his siblings and keep in touch even when they were out of state and spent time with his nieces and nephews. He was able to enjoy time with Aaron, Casey, Alisa, Ryan, Natalie, Dallas, Tevis, Nephi, Dax, Dixi, Shayla, Brennen, Teesha, Kyson, Tenaya, Kylee, Hailey, Zellie, Dylan, Abigail, Vraina, Nora, Klara, Jarrett, and Sophia.

Shawn was fun to be around and had a funny side—anyone lucky enough to share in his adventures was truly blessed to be with him.

We will all imagine him snowmobiling or jet skiing with a smile on his face because it puts a smile on ours.

Shawn’s family and friends will forever remember his generosity to help others, his quick smile, his sense of humor, and the way he made the world a better place to be in.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 10 a.m. until 12 Noon, Saturday, November 8, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 825 E. Ave. B, in Jerome. The interment will take place at 3 p.m. that afternoon at Rupert Cemetery, in Rupert.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home of Burley.