MADISON - Owen Bradley Emanuelson, age 1, of Madison, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. He was born on December 15, 2023, in Madison, the son of Erik Emanuelson and Cecilia Culp. His parents love Owen Conservation Park, which is located right behind their house, and is where Owen got his name. They were going to tell him that it was his park, and he will now be forever with them whenever they visit.

Owen had gotten quite skilled at turning the pages of his books, his favorite being “The Story of Rock,” which he will be buried with. Both his mama and papa have it memorized and would read it to him without even looking at the pages. Owen loved taking video and photos of himself on his parents’ phones, maybe because his smile brought himself as much joy as it brought the people around him. He also FaceTimed with family often, and everybody gushed over his precious smile.

Owen adored his two dogs, Remmy and Duke, and two cats, Poppy and Spud, calling all of them “doggy,” which was his first word. He smiled and laughed every time he saw any dog. Having just started walking, he would use his newfound mobility to chase Remmy around the house.

Herding balls and stacking cups were some of his favorite activities. He enjoyed music and listening to his iPod toy. He also loved to be tickled and to play peek-a-boo or hide-and-seek, and would shriek the loudest with laughter when he played those games with his papa. He loved when his papa blew bubbles, and one of his other early words was “bubbles,” which he would excitedly squeal when his papa entered the room.

Owen was a mama’s boy, clinging to her and putting his food in her mouth to feed her back. He loved mealtime, and he would try anything that was put in front of him. Berries were Owen’s favorite, and he always wanted to eat them first; he was a little fruit bat.

He was a very well-traveled child. When on plane rides, Owen would stand up on Mama’s and Papa’s laps to look at the passengers behind him. He would shake his head and smile at them all, and when his parents would look behind them, they would see the whole plane smiling and shaking their heads right back at Owen.

Owen loved snuggling in bed with his parents. Even though he had recently started sleeping through the night all on his own, they were secretly happy when he would wake up at 3 or 4 in the morning and they’d bring him into their bed. He’d snuggle into Mama and Papa and sleep until they were all ready to wake up. Though he had also recently started napping at daycare, he never napped independently at home, and his parents will forever cherish all of the extra hours of snuggles that they got to have with him over those countless contact naps.

Owen will be dearly missed by his parents, Cecilia and Erik; grandma, Barbara Bradley; nana, Kim (Scott Widen) Larson; grandparents, Lon and Sue Emanuelson; four uncles, Woody (Kristen) Culp, Hans (Rachel) Emanuelson, James (Hannah Hageman) Schuld, and Robbie LeClair; aunt, Jennifer LeClair; cousin, Pyper Culp; great-grandparents, Merle and Delores Larson; great-grandma, Jannis Emanuelson; and several great-aunts, great-uncles, and second cousins. Owen would have been the best big brother to his sister, who is due this June.

A visitation will be held at GUNDERSON FITCHBURG FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 2950 Chapel Valley Road, Fitchburg, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 4, 2025.

Owen was the light of his mama and papa’s lives. He brought so much light to the world, and words cannot express how deeply they will treasure the one short year they had with him.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson West
Funeral & Cremation Care
7435 University Ave.
(608) 831-6761

Owen Bradley Emanuelson

December 15, 2023 - December 18, 2024

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