George Peter Madsen, 85

September 25, 2025, Friends and family mourn the passing of George Peter Madsen, AKA Dr. Johnny Wow. The first of three children, George Peter Madsen was born August 27, 1940 to Margaret Madsen (Miller) and George Peter Madsen in Nome, Alaska. As he was the third generation to hold the family name, his family called him Pete. June 1, 2001, he branded himself as Johnny Wow. In 2005, he trademarked his artist name.

A beatnik bohemian from the start, George loved fast cars and motorcycles and was known to restore and rehab old machines. George maintained his father’s Model A Ford until a house fire destroyed it. He often commuted via motorbike, and rode an early Indian motorcycle, followed by a Triumph, and later a BMW.

George held a Masters of Fine Art in painting, and attended University of Washington. He won a prize for painting in 1964. Over his life, he developed skills in fine arts, letterpress, printmaking & machine printing, etching, airbrush, and all mediums from oil and acrylic to pastels and charcoal. Despite being known as an audacious wit in the Seattle art scene, and holding studio residence at the 619 Building, he liked to say he couldn’t sell a single painting. Despite this self-deprecation, his works are cherished by many.

A resident of Fox Island, Washington, George retired from a long career at the University of Puget Sound. Throughout his adult life, he maintained a daily habit of painting fine art under both his birth name and his artist’s name. For 55 years, he was a hypertrophic bodybuilder, maintaining 18” diameter biceps, and at 6’ 4” he was a striking figure of health until his last days.

His first wife Jan Marie Madsen (Johnson) was born 1945 and died 2013. Married in 1966, together they had two children: Jeffery Stuart Madsen (b. 1967, d. 2022) and Julie Mae Madsen (b. 1975). The family was challenged by Jan’s severe mental health, but George stayed with her, and navigated the family through rough patches including medical emergencies, home burglary, and a house fire. The couple separated in 1984 and divorced in 1985.

George met his long-time partner and wife Karen E. Miner (b. Sept 23, 1957) through their work at UPS. Ms. Miner joined the household in 1987, and the two married in 2002, staying together until his passing. They enjoyed camping and exploring the American northwestern states, throwing parties, sharing and expanding their mutual love of all art forms, encouraging each other to try new mediums and join art communities.

George was a man of many hobbies. Over the years he was involved in various affinity groups related to motorcycles, vintage automobiles, blues guitar, private pilot licensure and flying small aircraft, and bodybuilding. George was a prolific writer, reader, and artist. He produced roughly 1,000 art pieces per year. He loved hosting summer parties at his property, and became a certified BBQ master. He brewed his own beer, distilled alcohols including absinthe (which had a reputation for a real kick in the seat), and cooked the majority of his family’s meals. George was proud of his left-leaning Scandinavian family heritage and often spoke of his childhood in Nome, Alaska. He voraciously read books, zines, magazines, comics and art publications throughout his life, and was a weekly reader of The New Yorker until he was no longer able to. He suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2016 and over time it impacted his ability to continue writing, reading, hosting parties, and sharing his wit & scathing commentary.

He continued painting, joking and telling tall tales until his last days.

His wife, daughter, extended family, and community mourn the loss of this charismatic, charming, and creative human.

A celebration of life is slated for August 2026.