R. Peter Madel Jr.

With his wife of 66 years at his side, R. Peter (“Pete”) Madel Jr., 93, of Waseca, passed away on November 22, 2023. Pete left an enduring impact on his family, friends, and the broader community.

Born in Evanston, Illinois on August 29, 1930, Pete moved to Waseca with his parents on July 4, 1937. Because his father owned and operated small hotels, Pete lived in the Waseca Hotel from 1937 to 1947. Desiring to follow in his father’s footsteps, Pete attended, and graduated from, the Ivy League’s Cornell University with a degree in Hotel Administration in 1952.

While attending Cornell, Pete received a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps commission and spent two years serving in the United States Army. Pete’s service included a tour in Korea, where he worked as an Aide to General Maxwell Taylor. A man of few compliments, General Taylor provided Pete with two letters of commendation.

Following his discharge from the Army, Pete went to West Point, Montana, to operate his family’s Sherman Hotel. He then operated the Great Falls Hotel in Montana for a year, and then the Burke Hotel in Vermillion, South Dakota, for another year. While in South Dakota, he met Mary Ann Schumacher in 1956. They married on August 31, 1957, and ultimately had four children.

In 1960, Pete’s family acquired some land on Loon Lake and built Lake Shore Inn Nursing Home. Pete served as its Owner/Administrator for approximately 37 years. Known for his unwavering commitment to the elderly and vulnerable, Pete was a driving force behind numerous initiatives aimed at enhancing the standards of care within the nursing-home industry. In 1985, Pete was selected as the Minnesota Administrator of the Year by the Minnesota Chapter of the American College of Health Care Administrators. In addition to several other awards and accolades, Lake Shore Inn was designated as a “Teaching Nursing Home” by the University of Minnesota in 1993. Pete’s leadership, foresight, and advocacy played a pivotal role in creating a more compassionate and dignified environment for residents and their families. He was proud that his oldest son, Pete III, assumed Lake Shore’s Administrator role in 1998.

Pete’s love of Waseca shaped the community in which we live today. In 1967, after Waseca found itself with only one doctor in a community of six-thousand people, Pete, with two friends, lobbied and obtained funds to build the local hospital; funded and built a clinic next to the hospital; and convinced three young doctors to come to Waseca, each of whom practiced in Waseca for almost all their respective careers.

In 1969, Pete was instrumental in the passing of the Waseca High School Bond Issue, which led to the construction of today’s Waseca High School. Before Pete was involved, the Bond Issue failed twice. But as part of his efforts, Pete arranged for the Waseca newspaper to run “Man on the Street” squibs supporting the effort, persuaded Commanders of the Legion and VFW to co-sign letters of support, and convinced every minister in town to endorse the initiative the Sunday before the election. The third time, it passed by a wide margin.

Pete was a charter member of Waseca Hospice, a charter member of the Waseca Players, a member of the Waseca-Steele County Drug Court Steering Committee, and was the third person to win the Don Eustice Community Service Award. His love of golf led him to serve in numerous positions at Waseca Lakeside Golf Club, including as President, where he helped raise thousands of dollars to redesign the course. Driven by his sons’ love of hockey, Pete established the Waseca Hockey Association with a friend in 1971, which ultimately led to Waseca schools’ formal recognition of the sport. And when his son showed an interest in the law, Pete funded, and helped establish, the Waseca High School Mock Trial Law Team. Years after his children graduated from Waseca High School, he funded the Law Team when budget cuts threatened its existence.

In short, Pete’s legacy is woven into the fabric of Waseca’s community.

In addition to Waseca, Pete devoted years of his life contributing to the betterment of the State of Minnesota. Working for free, he worked tirelessly to improve the quality of care and support for those in need through his 20+ year participation in Minnesota’s leading trade association for nursing homes, Care Providers of Minnesota. After serving on numerous committees and other posts, Pete was elected Chairman of Care Providers’ Board of Directors. The organization also elected him Member of the Year in 1991 and provided him with the Life Achievement in Education Award in 1992.

Pete’s unwavering commitment to the elderly and vulnerable also led him to serve as Adjunct Faculty at Mankato State University for 16 years, teaching long-term care administration for its nationally recognized healthcare program.

In June 1992, Governor Arne Carlson appointed Pete to serve on the Minnesota State Board of Public Defense, and in February 2003, Governor Tim Pawlenty commissioned Pete to serve as its Chairman. His tenure established the district-by-district Board of Public Defense that exists today.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Pete cherished the moments spent with his family. Pete is survived by his wife, Mary Ann, his children, Elizabeth, Pete (Liz), Barry, and Chris (Paula), his grandchildren Patrick, Mike (Kristi), Drew, Zach (Carissa), Parker, Abby (Ryan), Haley, Nate, Bridget (Daniel), Olivia, and Bella, and great-grandchildren Jameson, Jackson, Easton, T.J., Blake, Braydon, Tinley, Cullen, Wren, and Everett.

In honoring Pete’s memory, Pete’s children strive to continue his legacy of kindness, compassion, and service. The world is undoubtedly a better place because of his contributions, and his spirit will live on through the positive changes he initiated and the lives he touched.

After a private family ceremony, there will be a Celebration of Life at Lakeside Country Club, 37160 Clear Lake Drive, Waseca, Minnesota, on Thursday, January 11, 2024, from 5 - 7 p.m. All are invited.