Michael James Linskens

Linskens, Michael James Michael James Linskens, age 66, died quietly at home on Monday, June 22, 2015. Mike was born February 18, 1949 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Richard Joseph Linskens and Joanne Louise Steiner.  He is survived by his wife, Dianne and his children, Nicole, Brett (Paulina), Tricia and Michaela; grandchildren Brianna, Sarina and Carina Halvorsen, Roman and Zachary Linskens; Brothers Richard (Gail) and Robert Linskens; Nieces April (Jason) Kaczik (Jonathan, Amber and Justin, Angel Linskens (Blake, Brandon and Bryce Martin); Sister-in-Law Corinne Yetka and Brother-in-Law Robert (Christy) Yetka (Samantha and Alex). He is preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Joanne; Father-in-Law, and best friend, John Yetka and Mother-in-Law Anne.  Mike grew up in the Milwaukee area and graduated from Washington High School in 1967, where he was an "All City Pitcher." Mike attended UW-Milwaukee and UW-Stevens Point, graduating with a BS in Water Chemistry and a Master's Degree in Environmental Chemistry. Mike and family moved to Madison where he worked at Hazelton Laboratories and went on to become the Laboratory Director at Warzyn Engineering. Mike created Environmental Chemistry Consulting Services (ECCS) in 1991.  Mike was proud of ECCS and the ECCS family that flourished under his original vision in 1991. Many who know and love Mike may include the label "stubborn," but in the work sense, that "stubbornness" was transformed into a company that never settles for the status quo. He wanted a company that was based on educating our clients on a potential solution to do things faster, better, and more efficiently, which went against a lot of the norm in the early years of the environmental cleanup community in which ECCS has and continues to serve. Mike also believed in and lived the concept of owner/operator, and his status as "owner" was in most regards secondary to his willingness to operate in the trenches – or in this case in the lab – day in and day out right alongside the ECCS family. This is a tenant that Mike lived right up to the very end. Mike was instrumental at creating a special niche in the Agricultural Chemical cleanup program, which was the foundation of ECCS' early success and a core service area to this very day. Many of the sites ECCS has helped clean up in this venue were located in remote locations throughout the country – many of which were coincidentally located near beautiful trout streams. Mike commonly "volunteered" to work on many of those sites, not uncommonly bringing his fly rod in tow with the mobile lab! Mike's legacy at ECCS is strong and he leaves a company that is not only the industry-leader in its field, but one that the ECCS family is proud to be a part of and will continue to flourish in the exact vision that he laid out over 25 years ago.  On a personal note, Mike loved nature in all of its aspects, predicting weather better than the TV meteorologists, and although he achieved "Life Master" title at bridge, he more recently changed gears to playing on-line poker and slot machines. One reason for this may have been that he likely ran out of bridge playing partners to beat, so poker and slot machines offered a wider field to tackle.  He loved sports and watching the teams he grew up with: Brewers, Packers and Bucks. Along with baseball he had a killer jump shot and before a game would always shoot 10 free throws. He was automatic hitting at least 8 out of 10 every time. You could often find him shooting hoops in the driveway, playing with the family and schooling his grandkids.  To celebrate Mike's life, a gathering will be held at Good Shepherd Catholic Church at its Saint Joseph Site, located at 1905 W Beltline Hwy. (off of Fish Hatchery Road) on Wednesday, July 1st from 5-8 PM. Dinner will be provided.  A memorial service will be held at Mike's favorite fly fishing spot on the Peshtigo River later this summer.  In lieu of flowers please help further Mike's efforts by contributing, in his name, to a conservation cause of your choosing. He would appreciate efforts to making this world a better environment for our future generations. If you need a place to start looking: http://eartheasy.com/blog/2014/12/where-to-donate-10-high-impact-environmental-charities-with-integrity/ On a lighter note, put in $20 at the slots at HoChunk and think of him pulling a few bonuses for you.  He was a rock for us all! He will be dearly missed! Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420