Romelle Alice Linde

Linde, Romelle Alice “Romie” MADISON-Romelle Alice Linde “Romie”, age 90, died on Thursday, March 5, 2015, at UW Hospital. She was born on Oct. 27, 1924, in New Lisbon, the daughter of Chester O. and Kathlyn (Walden) Smith. Romie was the second oldest of six children. She grew up on a dairy farm and would often reminisce about her contributions to the family's business at a young age. Romie would retell stories of assisting with cooking for her family and for the many men and women the farm would care for and employ. She attended New Lisbon schools and after the death of her father and then the sale of the farm, the family moved to Madison where she completed her final year of high school at Madison East with the class of 1943. On Dec. 31, 1947, Romie married returning World War II soldier PFC First Ranger Battalion George R. Linde. She made it known early in her marriage that it was always a dream of hers to live in a little yellow house with a white picket fence. Her husband, George made sure that her dream came true and she was able to live in the little yellow house with the white picket fence for the remainder of her adult life. In 1973, Romie’s husband George passed away when she was just forty eight years of age. She secured a driver’s license and for the first time worked seasonal jobs at Swiss Colony and the Department of Revenue. She had many interests and especially enjoyed dancing, going to the movies, hosting card club, crocheting, reading the classics to her children, working puzzles, watching sports of all kinds especially, football and baseball, and most recently enjoyed following the Nashville Predator’s Hockey Team. Romie looked forward to attending Women’s Fellowship meetings at church and going out for lunch with friends and family. Her real passion was caring for her family, cooking and preparing delicious Sunday dinners after church. Romie particularly enjoyed sending her baked Christmas cookies and candies by mail to family members who would not be able to travel home for the holidays or she would not see during the holiday season. It was always her belief that her childhood responsibilities of working and cooking on the farm developed into a lifelong love of cooking and caring for others. It was her faith, strength, hard work, positive attitude and sense of humor that made her journey through life a happy one. Romie is survived by her children, Michael G. (Nancy) Linde of Jacksonville, Fla., Rebecca J. (Vincent) Thomas, Lori J. (Michael) Skille and George J. (Michele) Linde, Jr. all of Madison; grandchildren, Brian, Shana, Jason, Shaun, Adrian, Katrina, Cordell and Amy; many great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Marjorie Smith of Springboro, Ohio, Lois Smith of Janesville and Joanne Smith of Madison; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, George; her parents; brothers, Conant, Herbert and Robert J. Smith; sisters, Virginia Smith-Barritt and Elizabeth “Pinky” Smith-Blankenship; nephew Scott Barritt; brothers-in-law, Donald Barritt, Cordell Blankenship and Carl (Dorothy) Linde; sister in law, Ethel (Floyd) Klitzman; father-in-law, George E. Linde; and mother-in-law, Emma (Gullickson) Linde. Funeral services will be held at LAKEVIEW MORAVIAN CHURCH, 3565 Tulane Ave., Madison, 53714, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18, 2015, with the Rev. Staci Marrese-Wheeler presiding. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Romie’s name to Lakeview Moravian Church. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420