Linda K. Acker

MASON CITY - Linda K. (Gossman) Acker, 61, of 1008 Delaware Ave., Mason City, bravely ended her brief battle with ovarian cancer at the University of Iowa Hospitals and went home to be with her Heavenly Father on June 12, 2007. Linda faced this challenge in her life like she did all others, with courage and dignity.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the Agape Christian Family Church in Clear Lake with Pastor David Toyne officiating. Private inurnment will be at a later time in the Garden of Memories in Waterloo.

Visitaiton will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St., in Clear Lake, and will continue one hour before the service on Saturday at the church.

The family suggests memorials to the Linda K. Acker Memorial Fund in care of the family at 2708 S. Lakeview Drive, Clear Lake, IA 50428.

The blessing began on Aug. 1, 1945, in Decorah, Iowa, where Linda Kay was the second-born daughter of Arland and Kathleen (Knox) Gossman. They moved to Evansdale, Iowa, where Linda spent the rest of her childhood growing up with her four sisters and three brothers in their humble surroundings at 910 East End Ave.

She graduated from Columbus High School in 1963 and moved to Milwaukee, Wis. She worked at Wisconsin Electric. She met and married James Acker and together they had three sons. They later divorced.

In the face of adversity, Linda moved back to Iowa with her three boys and made a home in Mason City as she started her new life as a single mother. She would begin to learn that independence suited her and this strong and loving mother would push forward to raise the beautiful sons who stand by her side today. Her amazing powerful steps have left an impact on them that will last forever.

You may have encountered her smile or her beautiful blue eyes if you frequented any of the Barlas establishments where she had worked for the past 23 years, most recently the Hanford. Many friendships have grown and been nurtured through those years and we know Linda will be remembered. New friendships were made when Fleet Farm opened in Mason City where Linda was employed as cashier from that day to the present.

Linda's life was dedicated to her three sons and later to the arrival of her five precious grandchildren, Michiah, Alexis, Kailee, Camry and Nick. She loved spending time with them and they always put a smile on her face.

Linda was a giver. Her selflessness resonates throughout our lives and it is with honor and pride that we remember her.

Linda is survived by her sons, Chris, of Des Moines; Sean (Lorna), of Mason City; and Adam, of Mason City; three granddaughters, Alexis, Kailee and Camry, of Mason City; two grandsons, Michiah, of Oregon and Nick of Mason City; three sisters, Theresa Diane Gossman of Chicago, Dureen (Gary) Bradshaw of Clear Lake and Denise Gossman Hauptly of Des Moines; three brothers, Dennis Michael (Sherri) Gossman of Chicago, Mark (Amy) Gossman of Denver, Colo., and Jeff (Lana) Gossman, of Denver, Colo.; and nine nephews, three nieces, three grandnephews, six grandnieces and several aunts and uncles.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Arland and Kathleen Gossman; a sister, Jeanine Brasher; maternal and paternal grandparents; and a niece, Savanah Lynn Bradshaw.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 641-357-2193.

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