Linda Bartholow

Linda Bartholow

Cedar Rapids

It is with great sadness that I and my family inform those who knew Linda Bartholow that she passed away early morning, Sunday October 13, 2024, due to the ravages of stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Her soulmate and husband Chuck, along with her loving daughter Krisann were by her side at home when she finally went to sleep.

Linda was born September 17, 1951, in Rockford, Illinois to Harold “Red” and Genevieve “Jenny” Anderegg. She finished her schooling at Elkader Central. She loved music, having grown up while her mom played in a country band. You knew she was happy if she was dancing. She loved her husband Chuck like no other. They were truly IN love for more than 46 years, one flesh, inseparable to the end. She and Chuck enjoyed taking walks together, especially thru cemeteries. They were looking forward to walking the Czech National Cemetery since they just moved across the street before her diagnosis. Nearly every pet they ever had were rescue animals, even her stuffed service companion Curious George was “rescued” from Goodwill. He was also by her side at the end. Thrift shopping was her favorite pastime, which is how she filled her closet, and library with hundreds of books which she collected. Fittingly, about 2 weeks before she died, she and her closest and dearest friend, sister-in-law Renee, went Goodwill shopping for the last time. When she left, she said she was going to look for an urn. She was so excited to show Chuck that she had found her urn at Goodwill for $8:99. She was so happy. She also enjoyed fattening her husband with his favorite foods, spaghetti, or lasagna or meatloaf, which were all top notch.

You would be hard pressed to find someone with a better sense of humor, which was a good thing if you know Chuck. She would even find the humor in things when she was the “butt” of the joke or story. She would laugh and say, “what can I say, if it’s funny it’s funny.” They weren’t always fun times though, as you might well imagine. Of the four children Linda brought into this world, two died far too early in life. That brought much pain to her heart, but at the same time her hope in the resurrection, which Jesus promised to come, kept her buoyed. This hope was something she, being one of Jehovah’s Witnesses for more than 50 years, readily shared with others. Her strong faith in Jehovah God and the Bible were why she spent many years in the full-time ministry, trying to help others learn the truth from the scriptures and be able to have the same hope she had. After her love first of all for Jehovah came her love for family. Each of her four siblings held a special place in her heart. She had too many friends to count, but even people who just met her for the first time knew she was special. She was a beautiful soul who will be sorely missed. The family would also like to thank the Hospice staff for the kind and compassionate help they provided.

Those left behind to cherish her memory include her beloved husband Chuck, sister Bonnie Popp, older brother Carl Anderegg (wife Sherrie), younger brother Allan Anderegg (wife Renee), youngest brother Bill (wife Maria), son Mike Knipper (fiancé Deb), devoted daughter Krisann Garey (husband Eligah), granddaughter Zoey Crushshon, along with many nieces and nephews and close friends.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, son Gregory Knipper (24), and infant daughter Kari Knipper.

Friends and family are invited to attend the memorial service for Linda at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 7121 Mt Vernon Rd SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52403, on Sunday, October 27, 2024, at 4:00 pm.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.broshchapel.com