A memorial service for Madonna Woodley, who passed away January 29, 2025, and her son Fred Woodley, who passed away December 26, 2024, was held February 4, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Jefferson, with the Rev. Dennis Martens officiating. Interment for mother and son was in Junction Township Cemetery. Fred’s obituary was published previously.
Madonna Jean Woodley, daughter of John Frederick Hasstedt and Clarice Hazel Caldwell Hasstedt, was born October 2, 1936, in Ogden, and died January 29, 2025, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. She was 88 years of age.
Madonna attended Amaqua Township Country School, located near the family farm, through second grade and then continued her education in Ogden, graduating with the class of 1955.
Madonna furthered her education at Iowa State Teacher’s College, now called the University of Northern Iowa at Cedar Falls. She taught school in Jefferson and East Greene, and taught preschool in Grand Junction. After her marriage to Gary Woodley and having children, she continued with her college education and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1970. She taught school for 13-1/2 years and worked at the Woodward Resource Center for 13 years. Upon retiring from Woodward, she continued to substitute teach for five years.
Madonna attended Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson and taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for many years while her children attended their activities.
Madonna spent many years advocating for persons with special needs while raising her family. She served on local and state boards and was a committee member to start the Greene County Sheltered Workshop, which became known as Genesis Development Center. She was a volunteer as a respite and hospice care giver for six years and served on the resident review board at Regency Park Nursing and Rehab over the years.
Madonna enjoyed many activities such as camping, gardening, sewing, crafts, and especially traveling with her son Fred. They traveled to Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada, and took many trips to Branson, MO. They also enjoyed several cruises and Mystery Trips with Fun Travel.
A favorite time in her life was having her grandchildren, Kaity and Rick, spend weekends “with Grandma and Uncle Fred.”
Madonna was preceded in death by her parents; baby daughter Marla Jean; son Frederick Woodley; brothers Kenneth Hasstedt and Roger Hastedt; and sister Marlene Rossiter. Madonna is survived by her son Gregory (Shelly) Woodley; grandchildren Kaitlyn (Guilherme) Freitas and Rick Woodley; great-grandchildren Joselyn Dorrian, Jemma Dorrian, and Jianna Dorrian; other relatives and friends.
Services were arranged by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home in Jefferson.
