Madonna Hart
Madonna Rose Hart, 91, of Wheatland, passed away June 14, 2025, at the home farm where she lived for the last 70 years with her husband, John, while family members and caregivers tended to her. Madonna Rose McClimon, was born November 17, 1933, on the family farm in Delmar, Iowa. She was the sixth and youngest child of Walter Ignatius and Mary Rose Rea McClimon. She attended a one-room schoolhouse known as the O’Meara school until 8th grade and then attended Delmar High School graduating in 1951. She attended Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa and obtained a two year teaching certificate. There was a shortage of teachers at the time and she was hired to teach at Welton Elementary with only a certificate. Madonna taught one year before marriage.
On September 3, 1955, she wed John Edward Hart at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Petersville, Iowa, and moved to the farm. Madonna then became a longtime member of St. James Catholic Church, Toronto. The couple farmed the Hart family century farm for 41 years until their son Paul assumed that role in 1996. Madonna was a loving farm wife, help mate, homemaker, and peacemaker. She was one of those “moms of many” raising 10 children with a lot of wholesome goodness and the reason we enjoyed coming home. She loved the Lord and prayed for her descendants daily until her passing. She was a great example of gentleness and grace and will be missed greatly.
She greatly enjoyed her 10 children, 33 grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren (3 more on the way). Survivors include her husband, John Edward Hart, and children John Stephen (Carol) Hart of Long Grove, Iowa; Anna Marie (Robert) Percuoco of Parkview, Iowa; Paul (Rita) Hart of Wheatland, Iowa; Patricia Hart of Ankeny, Iowa; Colleen Hart (Bill) Gerdeman of Dickens, Iowa; Marita Condon of Eldridge, Iowa; Mary K. (John) Overholtzer of Tingley, Iowa; Maureen (Dana) Greer of Iowa City, Iowa; and Therese Hart (Robert) Beswick of Greeley, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her parents Walter McClimon in May 1987 and Mary Rose McClimon in February 1981, both of DeWitt; daughter Michaela Marie Hart, August 1967, Wheatland; Son-in-law Bill Condon, November 2021, Lowden; grandson Carl Hart Gerdeman, April 1993, Dickens, Iowa; great grandson Matthew Hart Carhoff, August 2012, Des Moines, Iowa. Sisters, brothers, and in-laws: Marie Garcia, January 1994, and Benny Garcia, April 1981, both of DeWitt, Iowa; Anna Mae Kraus, December 2023, and Denny Kraus, March 1988, both of Horseshoe Bay, Texas; Olive Cannon, November 2023, and Bob Cannon, Sept 2015, both of Cockeysville, Maryland; Lois McClimon, October 2009, and Rae McClimon, October 2019, both of Delmar, Iowa; Bill McClimon, July 2022, Davenport, Iowa and Arlene Burke McClimon, February 2022, Clinton, Iowa; Phyllis Ann Kerper Hart, February 1975, and Steve Hart, June 1984, both of Davenport, Iowa; BVM Sister K. Therese Hart, May 2003, Dubuque, Iowa, and several nieces and nephews.
For three years, all her children, as well as outside caregivers, Julie Knoche, Linda Schneider, Jo Anne Horstmann, and Brittany Costas, consistently cared for Madonna and John. The last six months St. Croix Hospice joined in those efforts. The family is very appreciative of everyone’s efforts to keep our parents together and comfortable on the farm.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday June 28, 2025 at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Lost Nation, Iowa at 11:00 AM with visitation from 9:00 until service time.