Linda Wernz

Linda Wernz, 66, of West Union, IL, passed away unexpectedly on February 7, 2023, at Regional Hospital in Terre Haute, IN. She was born on January 10, 1957, in Oconomowoc, WI, the daughter of Marvin & Beverly (LaRue) Van Metre, both of whom preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her father-in-law, Robert Wernz; her brother-in-law, Chris Wernz; and her niece, Kindal (Wernz) Kivisto.

She married John Wernz on September 20, 1980, and he survives. She is also survived by her children & their spouses, Joy & Sean Yen (Columbia, MD) and True & Jaclyn Wernz (Nashville, TN); by her grandson, Jamie Yen; by her siblings, Kay & Bruce Plummer, Bruce & Jo Van Metre, David & Suzanne Van Metre, and Jill & Paul Stoffels; by her mother-in-law, Dorothea Wernz; by her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Don & Mona Wernz, Les & Karen Wernz, Barb & John Webster, and Mark & Joy Wernz; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Though her formative years were spent in Wisconsin, Linda's family eventually moved to Granite City, IL, before landing in the Carbondale area, where she graduated high school. She would further her education at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, where she majored in Mathematics and met the love of her life, John Wernz. Linda used her newfound knowledge at McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis, MO, where she worked as an aircraft engineer for a time before becoming a petroleum technologist, a job that found her in Houston, TX, and Denver, CO. It was at this point in time that she and her husband John traveled extensively, having hiked and camped throughout the continental United States (and even climbed a few mountains in the process!) All the while, she was pursuing a nursing degree, which led to a year of nursing in Portland, OR, before she and John moved to San Lorenzo, CA, where she worked as a chiropractic assistant while he was pursuing his Chiropractic Doctorate. The next few years found them in Milwaukee, WI, and Pueblo, CO, before finally settling in West Union in 1993.

The focus of this season of her life was to build up and shape her children into the good people she knew they could be. But while being a dedicated wife and loving mother was her primary calling, this hard-working soul couldn't keep out of the workforce. For four years, Linda worked as a cost analyst for Dana Incorporated in Robinson, IL, before taking the last step of her career when she became the accounting manager at Midwest Transport, Inc.

Away from the office, she was involved in the Girl Scouts and was a troop leader for a time. Her love of children was also evident in the years she gave herself to being a Sunday School teacher. Back home, she found great joy in playing dominoes and card games with her loved ones, who will each remember that wonderful, friendly smile of hers with fondness. They could also speak to her ardent passion for working jigsaw puzzles. There was hardly a time when she didn't have one going and was so immersed in the process that she could finish a 5,000-piece puzzle in a week's time!

It was evident that Linda Wernz pieced together a full and meaningful life. Over her 66 years with us, she showed us how to intelligently and effectively use our God-given tools and talents to contribute to the well-being of society and to the flourishing of people. Her generosity of spirit will continue to remind us all that life is what you make it. We are so thankful that Linda made hers a good one.

A time of visitation will be held from 2:00-4:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 18th, at the Prust-Hosch Funeral Home in West Union. A memorial service will immediately follow and be held at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, with Pastor Shane Bopp officiating. For those unable to attend, a recording of the service will eventually be available at www.goodwinefuneralhomes.com/live-stream/live-stream .