Cori Lokelani Madsen, 44, of Kenosha, WI, passed away on Monday, April 20, 2026, at Froedtert Medical Center in Wauwatosa, WI.
Born on July 21, 1981, in Abilene, TX, Cori was the daughter of Leon Mariano Chapman and Brenda Thompson. She grew up attending local schools and graduated from David H. Hickman High School before earning her bachelor's degree in environmental sciences from the University of Wisconsin–Parkside.
On February 26, 2006, she married Paul Madsen, with whom she shared a life filled with quiet routines, laughter, and deep companionship.
Cori was a homemaker at heart and took great pride in creating a comfortable and caring home. She had an especially deep love for animals and was devoted to their care—making sure they were well-fed, safe, and endlessly loved. Her pets were truly family to her, and she doted on them with patience and tenderness.
She found comfort and joy in the familiar—spending hours rewatching her favorite shows, Friends, Frasier, and Psych, reading, and cheering on the Green Bay Packers. Those who knew her best will remember her as sweet, caring, and quietly funny, someone who showed her love in thoughtful, everyday ways.
In recent years, Cori struggled with alcoholism, a disease that ultimately claimed her life. Her family remembers her as the loving, funny, and outspoken person she was before this illness took hold. While that struggle was part of her story, it does not define the person her family holds close in their hearts. They will remember her for who she was before—her kindness, her humor, and the love she gave so freely.
She will be deeply missed by her loving husband, Paul Madsen of Kenosha, WI; her father, Leon Mariano Chapman (Randy Mariano Chapman); her mother, Brenda Thompson (Dennis Thompson); her sister, Kerri (Tony) Keyte; her niece, Vivian Grace Keyte; and her nephews, Benjamin and Matthew Keyte.
Cori was preceded in death by her infant brother, Steven Corey Chapman.
Private services were held in accordance with Cori’s wishes.
