Linda Marie Stoeckel

Linda was born on February 15, 1948 in Highland Park, MI to Reuben and Helen (Laho) Tauriainen. She was the first of 6 children and earned the nickname “Queenie” from her younger siblings for her take-charge leadership and ability to oversee chores performed by them.

Linda received a two-year degree from Concordia College, Ann Arbor, MI, and completed her education degree at Concordia College, Seward, NE in 1969. She served as a Lutheran school teacher for 35 years before retiring in 2014.

On July 13, 1974, Linda married David Orrin Stoeckel. They raised three daughters, Melissa, Christine, and Stephanie, and took the family on countless adventures that included camping, traveling to Florida, family reunions and holidays, and hosting 16 exchange students over 6 years.

Linda was a mom, grandma, wife, sister, daughter, aunt, teacher, and friend to countless people, even the cashier at the grocery store she met 10 minutes ago (because she could talk to *anyone*).

Linda was a true and faithful servant of God throughout her life, serving in the classroom, on boards and committees at church or at schools, and in her community of friends and neighbors. Her purpose was to love and serve others, and she lived it each day until her last days; even her last grocery list included ingredients for chocolate chip cookies to make for her friends and neighbors.

Linda was preceded in death by her husband, David, her father, Reuben, her mother, Helen, her brothers, Eugene and David, and her sister, Nancy.

She is survived by her daughter Melissa (Stoeckel) Raphael and husband Andy Raphael, her daughter Christine (Stoeckel) Shook and husband Darren Shook, and her daughter Stephanie (Stoeckel) Dzubak and husband Steve Dzubak; four incredible grandchildren, Tanner Raphael, Kara Raphael, Allison Dzubak, and Piper Dzubak; her sister Lois (Tauriainen) Touchette and husband Dan Touchette; her sister Sandra (Tauriainen) Limb and husband Steve Limb, her sisters-in-law Nenita Tauriainen and Cindy Tauriainen, her brother-in-law Orville Schaudt, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcewenpinevillechapel.com.