Linda L. Marquardt

Linda Lou Marquardt was born June 13, 1946, in Ames, IA, to Wallace and Ione (Godfrey) Gray, the third of four children and passed away Sunday, February 5, 2012, her soul mate, Mikee's birthday, at her son and daughter-in-laws home in Crete at the age of 65 years, 7 months and 23 days.
As a young girl, Linda attended Marion Rural Independent School near Cedar Rapids, and graduated from Linn-Mar High School with the class of 1964, where she also was a member of the National Honor Society. Linda furthered her education by attending and graduating from Youngs School of Beauty. She was a beautician for a period of time before meeting Micheal P. Marquardt. They were united in marriage on March 20, 1970, in St. Joseph, MO and to this union, a son, Scott, and daughter, Christy were born.
Together they made their home in Lincoln where Linda was a housewife while Mike was a department manager at Sears. In 1979, Linda enjoyed joining Mike as a bowling alley proprietress at "Friendly Lanes" in Friend until October of 2000. Upon her retirement from the bowling alley, Linda worked at Orv's Grocery in Friend as a meat cutter. Linda enjoyed the many friendships that grew from serving the area while operating Friendly Lanes. She also loved coaching the girls softball, including the girls from the class of 1993. Linda was traditional, genuine, loving, opinionated, but fair. She enjoyed the time spent with her family, and was an avid fan of many sports and loved attending her children and grandchildren's school and sporting activities. Linda loved bowling, cooking, golfing, reading, doing crossword puzzles and painting art.
She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Cordova, Ford-Banka American Legion Auxiliary Unit #183, Friend, and the Women's Bowling Assoc. Linda received numerous bowling awards. She and Mike also achieved the, "Proprietor of the Year" award.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Wanda Marquardt, Crete, daughter, Christy Motis, North Platte, step daughter, Pam and Todd Sharp, St.Louis, MO, grandchildren and spouse, Misty and Steven Chiu, New York, NY, Kylie Vyhnalek, North Platte, Trey Marquardt, Crete, Nicholas Sharp, St. Louis, MO, great-granddaughter, Ella Chiu, twin sister and brothers-in-law, Sandy and Larry Van Lancker, Cedar Rapids, IA, Jim Steele, Marion, IA, Gene Vecchione, East Meadow, NY, "sister", Lavonne "Trix" Chamness, Cedar Rapids, IA, grandkids Vanessa, Andres and Erika Ruiz, nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Mike in 2011, sisters, Judy Steele, Muriel Vecchione, step-daughter, Terry,
A Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 8, 2012, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Cordova, with Rev. Brian Tuma officiating. Interment will be in Andrew Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday 1:00-9:00 p.m. with family receiving friends from 5-7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Visitation also Wednesday 8:00 - noon and 1 hour prior to services at church. Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation. Pallbearers are: Terry Beck, Justin Lawver, Brian Himmelberg, Dr Galen Huff, Roger Hanneman, and Ray Rohrig. Honorary Pallbearers are: Sheri and Dr Robert McKeeman, Barb Huff, and Keitha Beck.