Francis McMahan

Madison - Francis V. McMahan, 91, was called to his heavenly Home, Tuesday, December 19, 2023, having received his wish to die at home surrounded by family. His faith in God shaped the manner in which Francis interacted with the world. Throughout his life he loved God, his beloved wife “Rosie”, family, relatives and friends. Francis was a devoted gentleman who had a gift for connecting with people through music, visits, calls, cards and letters, (without the aid of the internet!). He had a gift for making “routine” extra special. Who would have guessed watching Lawrence Welk and Gunsmoke every Saturday night as a family could have been so much fun. Francis was a risk taker, entrepreneur and detailed organizer, modest, and proud to be 100% Irish.

The son of John and Annie McMahan, Francis was born on the “Squirrel Farm” in Hollandale, WI on February 27, 1932. At 16 months of age, and shortly after the death of his birth mother, he was taken in by his Aunt Julia and Uncle Henry Armbricht who raised him as their son.

Music was in Francis’ blood. This lifelong love was sparked at a very young age. While seated on the lap of his brother, Glenn, Francis would beat in time with a spoon on a pan. By the age of 4 he began to jig at social events. His first formal public appearance was at the WLS Barn Dance Show at the Stoughton City Hall Auditorium, where he sang and jigged accompanied by his cousin Josephine and the WLS fiddler and band. By the age of 7, Francis played the ukelele, the instrument he later used to serenade his future wife, Rosie, on their first date. Francis formed his first musical group at age 12. This trio cut a recording on a neighbor’s record cutting machine which Francis hoped to send to his brother, who was serving in the Pacific during World War II. At 15, Francis and friends, formed The Terrible 4; these four young men remained lifelong friends. Eventually with a booker they performed for the Midwestern Governors’ Convention. While still in high school and only 17, Francis formed the original Shamrock Band which performed live on the WIBU weekly half-hour radio show. A week after his high school graduation, Francis was hired as the fiddler for the Chippewa Valley Barn Dance Show, traveling throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Francis’ musical journey was interrupted in January 1952, when he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served our country for 2 years at Fort Hood, Texas. In October of 1954 Francis reorganized and directed the Shamrock Band, which by 1960 included 7 excellent musicians and a female vocalist. The band appeared weekly on WISC-TV for 113 shows in addition to playing for wedding dances and other events throughout Wisconsin. One of Francis’ best memories was when the Shamrock Band competed in Battle of the Bands with the nationally known Six Fat Dutchmen. Following the battle, the leader of that band congratulated Francis and told him, “You played our music better than we did!”

Though it broke Francis’ heart, life responsibilities resulted in him disbanding his Shamrock Band in 1963, yet his love for and participation in music never waned. He would go on to help organize countless Accordion Jamborees and St. Patrick’s Day Flag Raising Ceremonies at the State Capitol. Francis created and/or performed with The Goldenaires, Mad City Circus Band, Buttons and Banjo, Southern Wisconsin Old Time Fiddlers, and the Happy Hour Trio. It was especially important to Francis to share music with people confined in care facilities, which he did for over 6 decades, singing, chording on the piano, playing the fiddle, and tappin’ on the snare. He also was a board member of the Leigh Roberts Halfway House. He was honored as Irishman of the Year in 1978 by the Dane County Shamrock Club.

Francis loved family trips and to travel in his younger years. Camping with his family over 17 years and traveling throughout much of the United States. He was always outnumbered traveling with Rosie, 4 daughters, Gramma Schorr and a female dog! Weekends at “the shack” overlooking sunsets and the beautiful hills of Wisconsin and ‘heading North’ were treasured.

Francis appreciated the opportunity to work at the UW Hospital and later the Veterans’ Hospital in research labs with many wonderful doctors over his career. He especially loved heart research at the UW and the variety of research conducted at the VA. His attention to detail and improving lab procedures resulted in many awards.

Francis was preceded in death by his parents John & Annie McMahan and Henry & Julia Armbricht; his six brothers and four sisters; and his granddaughter Annie Vander Linden. Francis is survived by his wife of 70 years, Rosemarie (nee Schorr); daughters Colleen (Daniel), Maureen (Jeffrey), Kathleen (Jerry), and Janeen; grandchildren Ben (Sierra), Marta, Lauren (Ben), and Alexis; and great-grandchild Amelia.

The family sincerely thanks Aveanna Healthcare and Agrace Hospice for their kind and compassionate care of Francis.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, December 29, 2023 at Bethel Lutheran Church, 312 Wisconsin Avenue, Madison, WI 53703 at 12 noon. Visitation will be held from 10:00 until 11:45 a.m. at the church. A committal service will be held at Resurrection Cemetery, 2705 Regent Street, Madison at 3 p.m. for family and anyone wishing to attend.

In lieu of flowers, suggested donations can be made to Wisconsin PBS or Bethel Lutheran Church Media Ministry.

Ryan Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services

2418 N Sherman Ave

608-249-8257

***Limited parking will be available at Bethel Lutheran Church. Additional parking will be available at the Carroll Street Ramp across the street. Vouchers for free parking will be given out at Bethel.***