Linda K. (Lownes) Starcevich, 08 Sep 1947 - 16 Jul 2024

STARCEVICH, LOWNES, SCHRAMM, GRABOWSKI, STENDER

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 7/25/2024 at 13:19:39

Linda K. Starcevich, 76 of Fairfax, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf hospice house after a long and courageous battle fighting pancreatic cancer.

Linda was born September 8, 1947 in Denison, Iowa, the daughter of Raymond and Elizabeth (Schramm) Lownes.

She spent her childhood summers at the family cabin on Big Spirit Lake enjoying lake life, eating bullheads, and spending time with friends at Arnolds Park on Lake Okoboji. She also enjoyed travelling and visiting new places around the world, often with close friends Steve and Jean Wolfe. All destinations were her favorites in unique ways, and she would describe each place as amazing.

She attended Denison High School and then went on to get her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in mathematics education from the University of Northern Iowa, where she met her future husband in their first math class. They were united in marriage on August 17, 1968.

Throughout her career she worked as a dedicated middle school math teacher in Waterloo, West Burlington, and Amana. She had very high standards for her students. Linda also taught algebra for Western Iowa Tech Community College in Cherokee, Iowa and Kirkwood Community College at the Whirlpool plant in Amana. She was a long-time member of Beta Sigma Phi.

She loved spending time with family and friends and her grandson had a special place in her heart. Family dinners usually involved a card game. Linda also enjoyed several crafts, particularly quilting. She loved to go antiquing and doing jig saw puzzles.

Survivors include her husband of 55+ years, Mick of Fairfax, Iowa, son, Matt (Kali) of Amana, Iowa, grandson Colby of Amana, Iowa. Brothers, Randy (Jan) Lownes of Canon City, Colorado and Kirby Lownes of Spirit Lake, Iowa. Sister-in-law, Mary (Lee) Grabowski of Bradenton, Florida, aunt and uncle Sandra and Curtis Stender of Denison, Iowa, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Preceding her in death were her parents and daughter Michelle.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 4–7 p.m. Monday, July 22, 2024, at The Kirkwood Hotel and Conference Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. An opportunity to share will start at 5:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Prairie School Foundation, 401 76th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 or the Kirkwood Foundation, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404.

Published in The Gazette on July 18, 2024.