Linda J. Baumann

Linda J. Baumann, 76, of Sullivan, Wisconsin, very peacefully departed her Earthly body Sunday, December 22nd, 2024, in the presence of loved ones.

Linda was born on February 14th, 1948, to Irene ‘Sis’ Grace (Caudill) Shockley, who preceded her in death on September 6th, 1988. Our family believes with all our hearts Linda’s beautiful Soul was guided by her Mother Irene’s tender, loving arms and gently lead her Spirit over the threshold of Heaven, where she was met by loved ones and furbabies who have crossed over before her.

Linda was born and raised in Waukesha, Wisconsin. She attended grade school and high school in Waukesha. Linda married early in life to David L. Valentine, which was ironic given she was born on Valentine’s Day. During their marriage, they had two children, a son Patrick A. Valentine and a daughter Kathleen A. (Valentine) Leinss.

In 1968, Linda locked eyes with Raymond “Ray” Baumann while both worked at Hartland Plastics together, had fallen in love, and married on January 25th, 1975. They had two children, a son Christopher A. Baumann and a daughter Amy L Baumann. Eventually, the family settled in the boondocks of Monterey, Wisconsin.

Linda began working at Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital in 1984 in the Environmental Services Department and was employed there until 1996. Not long after her start at OMH, Linda became a trainer for new employees sharing her meticulous work ethic for providing a clean and hygienic environment for patients, visitors, and employees. Although she prided herself in work, Linda’s favorite part of her job was getting to spend time with and interacting with the patients. She politely asked every patient if she could come in and clean their room or if she should wait for another time. Most patients obliged and very often struck up conversation. Linda was considerate and empathetic, understanding what it felt like to be in the hospital. With her humanitarian heart and spirit, Linda did her best to try to brighten up a patient’s day. Other employment included Hartland Plastics and Stark Candy Company in Pewaukee.

Linda had a passion for crafting and the arts providing her with much catharsis in which she could immerse herself in creativity and tune out the rest of the world. Such crafting included mathematical and modular Origami, paper crafting such as paper ornaments and paper flowers, painting, sculpting, and molding with polymer clay, scherenschnitte, calligraphy, Christmas crafts, and other artistic talents she put her mind to. Her absolute favorite store to go to, where she would spend hours in, was Ben Franklin. She was crushed when she found out they were closing permanently. Other hobbies and interests included bird watching, playing Yahtzee, wordsearches, crossword puzzles, and she genuinely enjoyed learning about history and revisiting historical events. One of the many historical periods she enjoyed included Ancient Egypt and past Presidents such as Roosevelt and Lincoln. Linda collected Native American art and sculptures having soft spot for the buffalo. Other interests that touched her heart were gnomes, cardinal knick knacks, bird houses, and craft paper. She really enjoyed decorating her Christmas tree and did it with great precision, time, and a lot of perfectionism, which always turned out beautifully.

Linda loved various genres of music which included Country and the ‘Oldies’. Some of her favorite artists were The Everly Brothers, Neil Diamond, and Ricky Nelson. She was fortunate enough to see The Everly Brothers and Neil Diamond in concert. She also recently attended a Pentatonix concert. For a time, Linda had a huge crush on Country musician Marty Stuart. When the song “Smooth” by Rob Thomas and Santana came out, she would bop her head, tap her fingers, and danced as she enjoyed that song so much. Linda was introduced to Fleetwood Mac and when PBS played the concert “Fleetwood Mac – The Dance (1997)”, the two songs that “plunked her magic twanger”, as she would say, were “Tusk” and “Don’t Stop” because of the drumbeats that were heavily featured in those songs. Linda enjoyed the drums and drumbeats in many different songs and had once thought she would learn to play the drums back in her primary school years. She also enjoyed Celtic Thunder, Celtic Women, and Michael Flatley’s ‘Lord of the Dance.’ YouTube was a favorite of hers where she could watch and listen to ‘Penny the Talking Cat,’ numerous versions of the song “Hallelujah”, and countless crafting videos and tutorials. Linda would spend a lot of time on Pinterest saving crafting ideas that she wanted to try and often did.

Linda enjoyed watching films from the Golden Age of Hollywood, more specifically from the 1930s through the 1960s. Some of those included the movies ‘The Wizard of Oz’, Jimmy Stewart films, ‘Singing In The Rain’, ‘The Quiet Man’, ‘Gone With The Wind’, and ‘White Christmas’. Linda loved ‘Rio Bravo’ because Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson sang in it and that song was ‘My Rifle, My Pony, and ‘Me.’ Other favorite movies included ‘The Shawshank Redemption’, ‘The Green Mile’, ‘Tombstone’, ‘The Godfather Trilogy’, ‘Blazing Saddles’, ‘Spaceballs’, ‘Fantasia’, and ‘Lady and the Tramp’. A few of the actors Linda enjoyed were Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Danny Kaye, Gregory Peck, Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Sam Elliot, and Tom Selleck. TV shows that she loved watching included ‘The Carol Burnett Show,’ all the Dean Martin Roasts, ‘The Young and the Restless’, ‘Dynasty’, ‘Dallas’, and ‘Knots Landing’. She enjoyed watching ‘Ghost Adventures’ much to her husband Ray’s chagrin as he was terribly uncomfortable with the idea of ghosts and spirits. Linda often teased Ray that she would come ‘haunt’ him, and we believe she will keep her promise . Over the last year, Linda became fond of the movies that included ‘Shrek’, ‘Minions’, ‘The Grinch’ with Jim Carrey and ‘The Grinch’ with Benedict Cumberbatch, and the Puss in Boots series.

Her most recent and memorable trips included travel to Prairie du Chien, a visit to the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota, a weekend trip to spend time with one of her best friends Sandy Gull, a visit to see family in Tennessee, and Washington DC.

A woman, who through her own trials and tribulations, selflessly gave whatever she could to loved ones before thinking of herself. She loved her family fiercely and was so much stronger than she ever gave herself credit for. That is evident through the strength of her children and grandchildren. Linda more often than not would set aside what she was doing to provide advice, words of encouragement, and her undivided attention just by listening. She sacrificed so much of herself so that her family had what they needed well before herself. Liken it to the last piece of pie she really wanted but would give it to someone else, so they had a piece.

Her humor was priceless and her laughter so contagious. She loved a good joke and often interjected with her own quips that may have seemed out of left field but were in fact well placed and well received.

Linda will be truly missed by those who knew her and by her family who loved her beyond measure. Her Spirit will live on through thoughts, stories, and memories her family will forever hold dear.

Linda is survived by Ray, her loving and devoted husband of 49 years. Due to our family’s hilarious and uncorrected mathematical error until several days after the fact, they celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on January 25th, 2024. She is also survived by her children, Patrick A. Valentine, Kathleen A. (Todd) Leinss, Christopher A. (Corinna) Baumann, and Amy L Baumann; grandchildren Jayme (Sean) Wee Tom, Iris Johnson, Reece Baumann, and Wyatt F. Further survived by Brother James ‘Jamie’ Owen, nephews Chance Owen, Micheal Shockley and Matthew Shockley, Cousin Ken Stair, sister in Law Lorna (Dennis ‘Denny’) Grimm, nephews Barry (Lynn) Grimm and Casey (Sue) Grimm. Great-grandfurbabies who gave Linda so much joy, laughter, and comfort in her final stretch on this Earth included doggo, Caesar ‘Ceez’ and kitty’s Mazie, Goose, and Post-it ‘Posty’.

Members of Linda’s family and friends whose Spirits moved on before her were her Mother, Irene ‘Sis’ Grace Caudill Shockley, brother Ronald ‘Ron’ Shockley, sister in law Donna Shockley, nephew Bradley A. Shockley, Uncle George ‘Bud’ Caudill, Aunt Opal Shockley, ‘Aunt’ Delores ‘Tweety’ Foncannon, Uncle Jay Shockley, Grandmother Martha (Whiteaker) Shockley, cousin Mark Stair, mother in law Dorothy (Seaborn) Baumann, father in law Raymond ‘Ray’ John Fred Baumann, Clarence and Myrtle Kolstad, Charles ‘Chuck’ Kolstad, special friend Richard ‘Dick’ Foncannon and other cherished family and friends.

Furbabies who crossed the Rainbow Bridge prior to Linda’s passing, Major and Rusty, Siberian Husky/Alaskan Malamute brothers who passed on February 10th, 2010, and July 6th, 2016 respectively. Major, who she had a very soft spot in her heart for, was never blamed by Linda, for his extra curiosity of that squirrel that he chased after subsequently causing her to be thrusted into a tree where Linda had sustained broken arm, significant body bruising, and a concussion. Rusty was her constant and faithful companion at a particularly challenging and difficult time in her life. He brought her so much love, humor, comfort, joy, and peace. Each of these dogs were blessed to have Linda in their life just as much as she was blessed to have them in hers. Other special furbabies included dogs, Blackjack ‘BJ’ and Murphy, and cats Woofy, Cassie, Baby, and Kitten. Other special cats and dogs preceded her in passing and there were many.

A special thank you to granddaughter Jayme and grandson in law Sean Wee Tom for opening your home to Linda (Mom, Mumma, Grandma, Grammie) for the last 11 months to be able to live her life out on her terms with comfort, joy, humor, and love.

To Sandy Gull, for being one of her best friends since the day they met in the hospital obstetrics ward in mid-September of 1972 after both giving birth to their respective children on the same date! Linda loved and cared about you so very, very much that not even time nor distance could break such a bond. Know that Linda also cared deeply for your family. Not a single day went by where she didn’t think of you and miss you terribly!

Thank you to Kathy Krueger for not only being Linda’s dear friend from youth and for reconnecting over the past years for your special visits, along with your husband Pete. That absolutely meant the world to Linda and her family. Linda was so visibly happy and much more sociable when recalling the memories you both had shared. Ray wants to thank you so much for bringing out a version of Linda we all knew and loved.

Extending much appreciation and love to Erin S. Without you, the last 11 months never could have happened, and Miss Linda would have not gotten to enjoy some of the things only YOU would help with. Our family will be eternally grateful for the support you provided- to Linda, to Jayme, and to the zoo!

The family wishes to thank Katherine, Jill, Marie, and Lisa with Aurora Health at Home, for their exceptional aid, companionship and care for Linda during the last 11 months.

A private Celebration of Life is planned for a later date.