Madilyn Lee Upston, 88, of Tekonsha passed away Friday, February 20, 2026 at home, under hospice care, surrounded by her family.
In keeping with her wishes, Madilyn will be cremated and a memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 27, 2026 at the Union Church UCC, 206 W. Randall Street, Tekonsha, MI, with Pastor Melanie Johnson officiating. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Tekonsha.
Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, February 26, 2026, also at the Union Church UCC in Tekonsha.
The family is being served by Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation in Union City.
Madilyn graduated from Tekonsha High School with the Class of 1955. She married Howard J. Upston May 12, 1956. He preceded her in death on July 22, 2021.
Her first job was at the Tekon Truckstop, followed by State Farm Regional Office in Marshall. Madilyn and Howard lived eight years in Grandville; after returning to Tekonsha, she worked at Tekonsha Schools for 36 years. She started as a playground supervisor and ended up as administrative secretary. Following retirement, she became the Tekonsha Union Church UCC secretary, where she served for several years.
Madilyn was very involved in the community. She was a life-member of the Order of Eastern Star, a part of the Tekonsha IDEA newspaper committee, 4-H Council, the Union Church Bell Choir, was past-president of the GFWC-MI (Tekonsha Research Club), Fredonia Grange, and was a member of Union Church UCC in Tekonsha.
In her free time, she enjoyed crocheting, sewing, attending grandkids activities, and going to dinner with friends.
Madilyn is survived by her children, Howard W.(Debbie) Upston of Tekonsha and Deidre (Dan) Cross of Sherwood; her grandsons, Shaun (McKenna VanBuren) Upston of Tekonsha and Logan (Marissa Moore) Cross of Bronson; her granddaughters, Deborah (Carl) Thompson of Tekonsha, Britni (Harley) Poling of Centreville, Ashley Cross of Conyers, Georgia, and Danielle (Nickolas) Pearce of Tekonsha; her step-granddaughters, Heather Jefferies of Bellevue and Katlyn Emmel of Tekonsha; her great-grandchildren, Luca Upston, Journee Cross, Ivan Hughes, and Payton Thompson; her step great-grandchildren, Hannah Macomber, Aiden Dodson, Landen Brown, Gabriel Smith, Gavin Smith, Sahara Poling; sisters-in-law, Carolyn Thomas, Deb Taylor; brother-in-law, Tom Upston and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, Madilyn was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Larry Thomas.
Memorial contributions may be made to Union Church UCC in Tekonsha, 206 W. Randall Street, Tekonsha, MI 49092, or to Tekonsha Alumni Scholarship Loan Fund.
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