Cletus Madsen (December 1, 1905 – July 16, 2002) was a 20th-century Catholic priest of the Diocese of Davenport in the US state of Iowa.

He was ordained a priest for the Davenport Diocese on October 25, 1931 at the German College in Rome by Cardinal Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani.

When Bishop Henry Rohlman was transferred to the Archdiocese of Dubuque in 1944, the Sacred Heart choir, composed of men and women, as well as trumpets was a part of the farewell liturgy in the cathedral.

[3] In 1950, Madsen began to write a column on liturgical renewal in The Catholic Messenger, the diocesan newspaper which had a national edition.

He encouraged the establishment of boys' choirs, teaching chant to the students in Catholic schools and colleges, teachers and religious.

Full liturgical participation was also the goal of Madsen's in organizing the Davenport Diocesan Priests' Choir.

Father Madsen would find validation in his life's work when the Catholic bishops from around the world voted to approve, and Pope Paul VI promulgated, Sacrosanctum Concilium during the Second Vatican Council.

In 1979, Madsen Hall in Galvin Fine Arts Center at St. Ambrose was named in his honor, and he received an honorary doctorate from the school in 1982.

After he retired from full-time ministry in 1981, he resided at St. Vincent Center in Davenport and served as Assistant to the President of St. Ambrose University until 1998.

His funeral was held in Christ the King Chapel and he was buried in the Priests' Circle at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Davenport.