Madison “Maddy” VanEngen, 33, Remembered in Ocheyedan for Family, Compassion and Her Love of Children

 Madison “Maddy” VanEngen is being remembered by family and friends in Ocheyedan after her August 26, 2026 passing at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. She was 33. While the first announcement offered only limited personal details, the fuller obituary describes a young mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend whose life was centered on family and caring for children. Her story connects people across several Iowa communities.

Madison Marie VanEngen was born May 10, 1993, to Mark Beck and Jan Hoffman in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Her family moved to Remsen when she was in fifth grade. She graduated from Remsen-Union High School in 2011 and later attended Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg, where she earned a degree in Early Childhood Development. Her education connected closely with her passion for working with children.

Maddy met Cody VanEngen in 2013, and they married on May 26, 2017, in Le Mars, Iowa. They made their home in Ocheyedan and welcomed four children: Jax, Cash, Kolt, and Hallie. Her family described her as a devoted mother whose favorite pastime was watching her children enjoy their own interests. Whether cheering for the boys at baseball or football, spending time outside, or simply being present while her children played, she found happiness in ordinary family moments.

Her professional life also reflected her connection to children and community. Maddy previously worked for Titan Machinery in Worthington, Minnesota, before becoming director of Bright Beginnings. Working with children was described as her true passion, making her early-childhood education especially meaningful. She eventually had to leave that position because of her health. Earlier in 2026, church bulletins from First Reformed Church in Sibley had included requests for prayers for Maddy during cancer treatment, showing that her health journey was known within the local faith community.

Beyond work and motherhood, Maddy enjoyed the outdoors and spending time with the people closest to her. Her obituary recalls her love of side-by-side rides and camping, activities that gave her family time outdoors and lasting memories. She was also remembered as someone who would do anything for anyone. That description adds an important dimension to her legacy: alongside her role as a mother and professional, she was valued for generosity and willingness to help others.

Maddy’s family circle included her husband and four children, her mother Jan and stepfather Ron Hoffman of Remsen, her sister Erin Miller and husband Paul of Waterloo, and stepbrothers Andy Hoffman and wife Afton of Carlisle and Alex Hoffman and wife Alicia of Remsen. She also leaves parents-in-law, sisters-in-law, a grandmother-in-law, 10 nieces and nephews, extended relatives, and many friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Mark Beck, grandparents, and several relatives connected to the VanEngen and Schuck families.

Friends and relatives will gather to remember Maddy during visitation from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, August 31, at First Reformed Church in Sibley. Her funeral service is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 1, at the same church, with Reverend Brian Carpenter officiating, followed by burial at Ocheyedan Township Cemetery. The family has requested memorial contributions be made directly to them instead of flowers. For those who deeply loved Madison “Maddy” VanEngen, her memory will remain closely tied to the family she cherished, the children she cared for, and the everyday moments that gave her life meaning.