Linda Lousie Oelrich, 65, of Strawberry Point, Iowa, passed away peacefully in her home on Sunday, March 3, 2024. Linda was born on January 29, 1959, in Austin, Texas, the daughter of James Jessen and Janice (McKinney) Jessen. She was raised by her father and stepmother, Hazel, in Iowa, and graduated from North Fayette High School in 1978.
Linda was united in marriage to James (Jim) Oelrich in Fayette, on July 31, 1982, and moved to Strawberry Point in 1983. They welcomed four daughters, Amanda, Bridget, Vanessa, and Leta. Linda worked alongside Jim as a bookkeeper for their business, Napa Auto Parts, for over 25 years.
Linda had an incredible ability to sew, quilt, and embroider, and it was one of her greatest passions in life. She sewed many of her children’s clothing for special events when they were young, sewed many of their costumes for their roles in a variety of musicals throughout high school, and has quilted and embroidered hundreds of beautiful quilts over the past 35 years. More recently, Linda loved creating blankets and other quilted items for her grandkids. Linda also enjoyed traveling around Iowa to meet up with friends for quilting retreats. Even after Linda received her devastating diagnosis in early 2023, she was able to attend a couple of those retreats over the last year. In addition, Linda donated 29 quilts and other items to Camp EWALU for their 36th Annual Quilt Auction in September 2023. Her pieces helped to raise $4840, and she won multiple People’s Choice Awards.
Linda began exhibiting symptoms of some form of illness in September 2022. She was officially diagnosed with Bulbar Onset ALS on March 3, 2023, and over the course of the past year, she lost the ability to speak, eat, and walk. Gratefully, Linda was able to use her hands as well as her quick wit and spirit up until the last few weeks of her life. Several of her last sewing projects, completed in the months and weeks leading up to her passing, were sewing zipper pouches for grandkids and her St. Croix Hospice team.
Linda is survived by her husband of 41 years, Jim Oelrich; their daughters, Amanda (Neil) Heller of Custer, South Dakota, Bridget (Andrew) Camp of Elkader, and Vanessa (Gary) Wiest of North Liberty; son-in-law, Zach Schroeder (Desiree) of West Des Moines; grandchildren, Arya, Erin, Owen, Liza, Jack, Emily, Blair, Ben, and Nadia; stepfather, Arvol Hodge; sisters, Rebecca (Dale) Daniel and Brenda Jessen (Scott Ludtke); brothers, Fred Jessen (Irina Fadeeva) and Keith (Erin) Cole Jessen; sisters-in-law, Loyce Oelrich and Judy (Gary) Hansen; and several nieces and nephews.
Linda was preceded in death by her youngest daughter, Leta Schroeder; granddaughter, Emma Wiest; parents, James Jessen, Hazel Jessen, and Janice (McKinney) Hodge; sister, Debbie Lee Jessen; parents-in-law, Joyce Oelrich, Donald Oelrich, and Hilda Pleggenkuhle Oelrich; and brothers-in-law Kenneth Oelrich and Jerry Oelrich.
Online condolences may be sent to www.leonard-mullerfh.com
Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 9, 2024, at Grace Evangelical Free Church in Elkader, Iowa. Deacon Pat Malanaphy will be presiding.
Visitation: 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 8, 2024, at Leonard-Muller Funeral Home in Strawberry Point, Iowa. Friends may also call on Saturday, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the church.
Interment: Cass Township Cemetery-Strawberry Point, Iowa.
