Michaele Joy Madden
- Sep 8
- 2 min read
Michaele Joy (Kiefer) Madden, 77, of Spokane, Washington, passed away peacefully on September 7th, 2025. She was the beloved daughter of Alvin and Joan Kiefer, sister, mother, grandmother, wife, partner, and friend to many.
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Michaele grew up in the working-class suburbs of Chicago and was the first in her family to attend college, earning a degree in Industrial Psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. After graduating, she moved to California, where she met her first husband, Michael Wallach. They lived in California, Colorado, and Wisconsin before settling in Spokane, Washington, where they raised their family.
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Michaele devoted herself wholeheartedly to raising her children, nurturing their growth and supporting their dreams. She worked alongside her husband, managing the books for their food brokerage business, and volunteered with her children’s schools and the Spokane Guild’s School. Later, she built a successful career in insurance with Bankers Life, where her compassion and professionalism made a difference in many lives.
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Michaele had an adventurous spirit and natural athleticism that carried her through a lifetime of activity and friendships. She was a talented tennis player, avid golfer, dedicated skier, bike-riding enthusiast, fun-seeking Jeeper, and world traveler. She loved community, chatting with new and old friends, enjoying card games or puzzles, and savoring a glass of wine. Her zest for life, warmth, and laughter continue to inspire all who knew her.
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Above all, Michaele was devoted to her family. She is survived by her loving partner, Tom Kelly; daughters Jillian (William) Moss and Jeannine (Gabe) McGuire; and grandchildren Sienna and Avery Moss and Clover and Malachi McGuire. She was preceded in death by her husband Jack Madden, her first husband Michael Wallach, and siblings Wayne, Al, and Carol Kiefer.
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A memorial service and reception will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Heritage Funeral and Cremation, 508 North Government Way.
In lieu of flowers please make a gift donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
