Irma Lu Madden, 97, of Mendota died July 13, 2018 in OSF St. Paul Medical Center, Mendota.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, July 23rd at First United Methodist Church, Mendota with Rev. Mary Bohall officiating. Burial will take place in Restland Cemetery, Mendota. There will be no visitation. The Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota is handling the arrangements.

Irma Lu was born May 25, 1921 in Rochelle to August M. and Carrie (Sechler) Zimmerman. She married Arthur D. Madden on Oct. 20, 1951 at the Methodist Church in Rochelle. And they enjoyed 46 wonderful; years together.

She was a 1939 graduate of Rochelle High School and the class Valedictorian. She attended Northern Illinois College. She was a private secretary to the Division Manager of DelMonte Corp. in Rochelle for 13 years. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Mendota Hospital Auxiliary and  Mendota Elks Lodge 1212. Irma Lu loved and participated in many sports. She especially enjoyed playing tennis. She was a member of the Northern Illinois tennis  team and continued to play until the age of 75. She was a loyal and devoted fan of the Chicago Cubs, Bears, Bulls and Blackhawks.  She followed the tennis career of Roger Federer. She was devoted to her family, enjoyed corresponding with dear friends, listening to CD's of Methodist Church services of Pastors Michael Morrell and Kent Svendsen .She liked riding her stationary bike, reading to her grandchildren, working on crossword puzzles and watching sporting events on TV. She enjoyed being a part of her son's restoration of vintage cars, she liked to go shopping with her daughter and granddaughter and spending time with her loyal dog Chloe.

She is survived by one son William Madden of Mendota; one daughter, Nancy (Tim) Dessing of Mendota; 2 grandchildren, Ryan (Renie) Dessing and Ashley (Andy) Osikowicz; 2 great-grandchildren, Maggie Dessing and Reagan Osikowicz; stepdaughter, Sharon Decker of
Tennessee; 2 step grandchildren, Rich  (Kim) Decker and Susan (Rich) Cilento; 4 step great-grandchildren, Jennifer and Michelle Decker, Marissa Tanner and Sami Cilento; brother William (Carol) Zimmerman of Rochelle and her Bichon dog Chloe.

She was preceded by her husband on April 11, 1997 and a sister Mary June Anderson.

Memorials may be directed to First United Methodist Church.