Madeleine Porter

Madeleine Margaret Porter

1920 - 2018

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Obituary of Madeleine Margaret Porter

Madeleine Margaret Porter, age 97, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 5, 2018 at the Willow Park Senior Living Center in Boise, Idaho in the presence of her beloved son George and his wife, Robin Porter. Madeleine was born on the family farm near the town of Randolph, Illinois in McLean County on October 28, 1920 to John Henry Lowell and Helen Ann Steinke. As the oldest of five siblings, she developed a strong sense of responsibility and moral character that she carried with her and consistently demonstrated throughout her life. Although Madeleine had many fond memories of her days on the farm, from a very early age, her love of reading about faraway places and the pleasure she found in helping others to learn fueled an ambition to travel and to become a teacher. An exceptionally diligent and hardworking student, she was awarded a scholarship to attend University High School which allowed her to take accelerated courses, graduate early, and subsequently obtain a B. Ed. Degree from Illinois State Normal University within 3 years of entering college. Madeleine's first teaching assignment was in the small town of Hurst-Busch, which she later recalled as a small, coal mining community of good people struggling to cope with the effects of the Depression. The silver lining of what turned out to be a very challenging year for her was that it was here she met the love of her life and future husband, George William Porter (GP), who was also a teacher and coached at the local high school. Following a move to Chicago, Madeleine enjoyed working for General Electric as a typist and administrative assistant during the years of World War II. It was during this time that she began keeping a daily diary, which she took pride in keeping up for the next 70 years without missing a day. She and GP married on July 9, 1945, soon after he returned from serving in the European theatre as an intelligence officer. Their first child, Mary Anne, was born the following year and their second child, George II, was born five years later. Shortly after starting their family, Madeleine and GP bought their first house in Blue Island, a small suburb south of Chicago, and resided there for the next 30 years. Once both of her children were in school, Madeleine got back into teaching by serving as a permanent substitute at Eisenhower High School, where her husband also taught, coached, and managed several school-related enterprises and programs. During this time, Madeleine was an active member of Blue Island's Grace Methodist church and especially enjoyed singing in their choir. She also volunteered her time to help support the Girl Scouts, Lion's Club, and various activities associated with her husband's involvement in the Air Force's 381st Bomb Group and Illinois Air National Guard. Madeleine and GP both had a life-long passion for traveling. During their working years, summer vacations were spent taking the kids to visit all 50 states, much of Canada and Mexico, Bermuda, and the Virgin Islands. After retiring and moving to Tucson, Arizona in 1976, Madeleine and GP continued their travels throughout the U.S., Mexico, and Europe, often in the company of old friends. Madeleine, accompanied by her daughter, also fulfilled a life-long dream of traveling to China and visiting several other countries in that region. These travel adventures, as well as all the family events that took place throughout her life, were documented in more than 50, well-labeled and preserved photo albums which the family will continue to treasure and enjoy for many years to come. After her husband passed away in 1994, Madeleine continued to live in Tucson until she moved to Boise, Idaho in April of 2014 to be closer to her son and his family. During her time in Boise, she especially enjoyed being a part of frequent family get-togethers, cards and visits from relatives and good friends and, last but not least, eating ice cream whenever she felt like it. In addition to the passing of her husband, Madeleine was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, Geraldine Lawrence, Mary Jo Desmond, Angela Norwood, and Gertrude Wilkinson. Madeleine is survived by her brother, John Gregory Lowell of Eligin, Illinois, her daughter, Mary Anne Leonard and granddaughter Laura Lynn MacDonald of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, her son, George Porter II, and grandson, Andrew Porter of Boise, Idaho, and 3 great-grandchildren, Ian, Zoe, and Lottie. Madeleine's personality and character were defined throughout her life by her trust in God, a profound love and concern for her family and her country, and an insatiable appetite and joy for "going and doing." Regardless of the circumstances, she unfailingly demonstrated a positive, can-do attitude and inspired others with her grace and courage. Her signature advice to always "Hope for the best and cope with the rest" coupled with the tangible support she unselfishly provided to so many others over the years were sincerely appreciated and will no doubt continue to bear fruit for many years to come. A celebration of Madeleine's remarkable life is planned for later on in the spring, which was her favorite time of the year.
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A Memorial Tree was planted for Madeleine
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Summers Funeral Homes - Boise Chapel