A celebration of her life will take place at 1:00 pm, Saturday July 1, at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Davenport.
Linda Sue was born in Davenport to Lawrence “Bob” and Ruth Witte. She grew up in Wheatland, Iowa, and played center field for the high school girls softball team; they were Iowa State Champions in 1957. She also played girls’ six-on-six basketball, going to the state tournament in 1958. She graduated from Wheatland High that same year.
Sue always wanted to be a teacher, and earned her BA in Education from the University of Northern Iowa, and her MA from Marycrest College. She spent most of her career teaching at Pleasant View Elementary in the Pleasant Valley school district. She also used her abilities to mentor student teachers, serve as a guest lecturer at Augustana College, and as a docent at the John Deere Pavilion and museum. Her desire to travel and learn about other cultures called her to China, Japan, Britain, Greece and other destinations to learn about their school systems.
There she volunteered in elementary classes, interacting with teachers and students. She wrote, “I have always had the desire to know a variety of people and come to understand their very being.” Sue was a finalist for Iowa Teacher of the Year in 1974, and in 1988 was presented the Golden Apple Award in Scott County, IA
Sue had a long association with the Sisters of the Humility of Mary, and was a Lay Associate of the order for 50 years. Also a member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities (UUCQC), she was known for her welcoming demeanor—- engaging newcomers & connecting people with common interests.
Sue remained a basketball fan all her life, ardently rooting for the Iowa Hawkeye teams in person or on TV. Her math lessons on calculating averages might have incorporated the scores from the previous night’s game.
But Sue’s passion was people. She remembered the details of their lives, and tangibly let them know she cared. She was famous for the hundreds (thousands?) of cards she sent to friends and family, often stuffed with news clippings she knew would interest the recipient. Her handwritten notes (marginally legible!) would fill the card, wind around the margins, and even extend to the outside of the envelope.
Sue was preceded in death by her parents, first cousins Roger Witte & Carolyn F. Witte, and former husband Bruce Gerth. She is survived by her brother, Larry Witte (Boca Raton, Florida), niece Barbara Witte Casey (Chris), grandniece Sabrina Casey Lance (Zach), grandnephew Alex Casey, first cousins Jean Ann Denton (John), Drew Denton (Veta), Robert Witte (Cheryl) and Ken Hein (Maureen), honorary cousin Carolyn J. Witte, and countless good friends.
Sue’s family and friends would like to thank the staff at Senior Star and Genesis Hospice for their gentle and thoughtful care for her.
Memorials may be made to Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat (chmiowa.org/retreat) or UUCQC (UUCQC.org)
