Linda K. Hartley

Linda Hartley, 72, of Milwaukee, WI passed away peacefully on August 17, 2020, after a ferocious 5 ½ years battle with metastatic breast cancer.

Linda was born on January 14, 1948, to Frank and Dorothy Hartley in Chicago, IL. After graduating from Gavin High school in 1965, she went on to study English at the University of Perdue Northwest in Hammond, Indiana.

In 1969, Linda met Kenneth Claunch and married a year later in 1970. Linda and Ken bought their first home in Homewood, Illinois where they had their first child, Jennifer in 1973. Linda was actively involved in the Jaycees and supported her husband Ken during his master’s program at Loyola as well as in his young career after being recruited by the IRS in the Criminal Investigations division. Upon Ken’s promotion to Madison Wisconsin, their second child, Christopher was born in 1978.

Linda was intelligent and witty with extensive knowledge of the English language. She wowed people with obscure words that were in her everyday language. She was the life of any party and excelled at anything she put her mind to whether it was setting up a well-designed home or creating landscapes in oil on canvas. She loved animals. Her cat Sidney brought her constant joy and unconditional love and support while battling her cancer. Her family and friends will miss her more than words can say.

Linda joins her parents, Frank and Dorothy, and ex-husband, Ken, in Heaven. She is survived by her siblings Robert (Judy), Steve (Brynn), and Christine (Jim), her children, Jennifer and Christopher her nephews Steve (Julie), Matt, and James, her nieces Marlene (Steve) and Malinda (Johndale), her great-nieces Kinley and Adelyn as well as great-nephew Breck.

The family requests that all flowers and notes are sent to their home. There will be a private celebration of life for family members at a later date.