Madge Friese

Madge Marie Walton Friese, 87, of Cape Girardeau passed away Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center. She was a lifelong resident of Cape Girardeau and a faithful member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church for over 55 years.

Madge had many varied interests during the course of her life. Under the influence of her older brothers, she became an ardent follower of St. Louis Cardinals baseball in the late 1930s and maintained a strong rooted interest in the Cardinals for the rest of her life.

She enjoyed bowling and attended many Missouri state bowling tournaments with her team of friends from Cape Girardeau.

While raising her children, she served as a leader in Cub Scouts, Brownies and Girl Scouts. In her later years, Madge stayed active by participating in water aerobics classes, meeting friends for lunch, working crossword puzzles and watching the Cardinals. She also loved to travel, visiting England, Australia, Chile and Canada, and was able to observe the natural wonders and wildlife of many of North America's most scenic national parks and monuments.

Madge started dating the love of her life, Carl Melvin Friese, after he returned home from World War II in 1946. They married in 1947 and spent 55 happy years together.

Madge is survived by two sons, Michael (Donna) Friese of Sugar Land, Texas, and Stanley (Sharon) Friese of Urbana, Illinois; a daughter, Lisa Gaye (Robert Hoppmann) Friese of Paducah, Kentucky; four grandchildren, Michael Friese Jr., Madelline Friese Alderding and Kyle and Cole Hoppmann; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, Madge was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Emily Walton; four brothers, Emry, Lehman, Alvin, Ollie and Calvin Walton; four sisters, Mildred Walton Waldrop, Eva Walton Wallace, Alma Walton Jennings and Ivah Walton Allen; and her dear best friend for over 70 years, Helen Layton Morse.

Friends may call from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral service will follow at noon Thursday at the funeral home, with the Rev. John Dehne and Mr. Jim Hicks officiating.

Burial will be at Cape County Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau.

Memorial contributions may be given to American Cancer Society, Parkinson Foundation or St. Andrew Lutheran Church.

Online condolences may be made at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.