Obituary: Laura Love Linden - Class of 1924

MADISON - Miss Laura Love Linden, age 100, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008, at Attic Angels in Middleton. She was born in 1908, in Oregon City, Ore. to the Rev. John and Florence Linden. In 1912, the family moved to Madison, where Laura attended Randall School, Central High School, and the University of Wisconsin - Madison where she graduated in 1928. In 1929, at the age of 21, she received her Master's Degree in Italian and French. She then taught at Ripon College, and Jamestown College in North Dakota. She taught the longest from 1945 to 1974 at Muncie Central High School in Muncie, Ind. She then retired to Madison, where for 24 years, as a student senior guest, she audited many courses at the UW - Madison. Much of Laura's time was spent as a volunteer. For 10 years, even into the 90's, she chose big print books for retirement homes at the Schwab Library in downtown Madison. One of her chief hobbies was the love of travel. During summers, she attended many universities and foreign countries: The Sorbonne in Paris; McGill University in Montreal, Canada; The Royal University in Perugia, Italy; Columbia in New York; Stanford in California; South America; Australia; and with Purdue University, behind the Iron Curtain. Laura was also a UW sports fan, and will be remembered for her generous contributions to the UW and other charitable organizations. Laura was preceded in death by her sister, Kay Johnson in 1989; her brother, Doctor John Linden in 1993; and her brother, Robert Linden and his wife, Ruth, in 2007 and 2008. She is survived by Silas "Hap" and Marie Johnson of Madison; Nancy and Albert Nicholas of Beaver Lake; Virginia and William Barnett of Neenah; David and Mel Johnson of Elm Grove; Christine and Skip Bennett of Punta gorda, Fla.; and Richard and Patricia Linden of Bethesda, Md. All of these were her nieces and nephews, but there are many, many more nieces and nephews, both great and great-great, as well. Per Laura's request, there will be no funeral other than a graveside service for immediate family members. Also, Laura requested that no flowers be sent. Memorials may be made to The First Baptist Church, 518 N. Franklin Ave, Madison, WI 53705; The University of Wisconsin Foundation, U.S. Bank Lockbox, P.O. Box 78807, Milwaukee, WI 53278-0807; or to the Schwab City Library, Madison Public Library Foundation, 201 W. Mifflin Street, Madison, WI 53703. Cress Funeral and Cremation Service 3610 Speedway Road (608) 238-3434

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on February 20, 2008

Note: Laura Love Linden's class year is based on information in the 1924 Tychoberahn, where her photograph is included among those of the graduating seniors.