Madalyn Marie Runge died unexpectedly on Friday September 5, 2014 at Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center in Denver, CO. She was born on August 13, 1949 in Woodstock, IL to Ray and Anna Marie (Oppermann) Runge. Mady's kindness and generosity graced the lives of countless fortunate individuals from all walks of life, including many four-legged fans. She moved to Colorado in 1979 and began a new life in Greeley, a place where she returned frequently for comfort and support. Mady had recently retired from Enerplus in Denver where she held the position of Senior Land Administrator for the past 7 years. She had worked in the oil and gas industry since 1981, beginning as George Gear's assistant at Gear Drilling Co. Prior to her second career in Colorado, Mady charmed the Class of '67 at Waukegan (IL) Township High School and then went on to earn a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from Illinois State University in Normal, IL in 1971. She returned to her hometown of Waukegan, IL and taught kindergarten at Hyde Park School from 1971-1979. She would often talk about how much she enjoyed the kids and especially loved reading them her favorite children's story – The Little Red Hen. The story's message was one of independence and self-reliance, values that were instilled in Mady and her brothers by their mother. Madalyn was preceded in death by her parents Ray and Anna Marie and brother Russell. She is survived by her brothers Tedd (Loveland, CO), Mark (Western Springs, IL), Russell's widow Sandy (Paul) Sand (Woodridge, IL), niece Lauryn (Mike) Sholts (Union, KY) and nephews Nick Runge (Pasadena, CA) and Alex Runge (Ft. Collins, CO). Donations may be made in her honor to the Denver Dumb Friends League (www.ddfl.org) and the MaxFund (www.maxfund.org). The family is planning a tribute for Madalyn on Saturday October 18th in Denver and she will be buried next to her parents at Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, MO.