Obituary of Linda Lea Votava

Linda Lea Votava, age 66, of Viroqua, WI, formerly of Wisconsin Rapids, passed away unexpectedly, Wednesday, November 11, 2015 at Mayo Clinic Hospital, St. Mary's Campus in Rochester, MN. Services will be at 12:00 P.M. on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home, 2201 Chestnut Street, Wisconsin Rapids. Rev. John Grohs will officiate. Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service on Wednesday at the funeral home. Linda was born March 20, 1949 in Wisconsin Rapids to Elwood and Betty (Kawalske) Smith. She graduated from Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids in 1967. Linda married James Votava on February 4, 1977 in Madison. They were blessed with the birth of a daughter, Melissa. James passed away on June 22, 1988. Linda was employed Arpin Dairy in Arpin, WI from 1982 until the factory closed in 2001 when she moved to Viroqua, WI. She was currently employed by Organic Valley in La Farge, WI as purchasing coordinator. Linda loved gardening and flowers and spent many years working seasonally at Reeves Greenhouse in Wisconsin Rapids. She was a huge Green Bay Packer fan and also followed the Brewers and Badgers. Linda loved her family and her grandsons were her world. Linda is survived by her daughter, Melissa (Josh) Glodoski and grandsons Mason and Jackson of Plainfield, WI; five sisters: Barbara (Jay) Nordstrum of Oregon, WI, Judy (Clarence) Lacina of Phillips, WI, Mary (Melvin) Harn of Waupaca, WI, Diane (Smith)Rymes of White Bear Lake, MN, and Kathy (David) Barth of Wisconsin Rapids; one brother, Gary (Jean) Smith of Wisconsin Rapids; and brother-in-law, Kenneth Russ of Mosinee, WI. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, James, and sister, Jeanne Russ.