Linda Houshower

BLUFFTON -- Linda (Beechy) Houshower, 70, died on August 5, 2022 at University of Michigan Hospital after a short struggle with a rare, untreatable cancer. Born December 27, 1951, to the late Orin and Marie (Ramseyer) Beechy, she grew up in Wooster, OH where she was an active member of Oak Grove Mennonite Church and the YMCA where she taught swimming. During high school years, she was a counselor at Camp Friedenswald where she developed her love of nature and met her life partner, Hans Houshower. They married on April 14, 1973 and in 1974, Linda earned her BSRN from Goshen College, IN. A labor and delivery nurse, she helped deliver babies in Indianapolis, IN, Seattle, WA, and Lima and Bluffton, OH, her home for 37 years.

In 1985, she and her husband partnered with close friends to establish The Food Store, a natural foods business in Bluffton where she was a managing partner for over 30 years. Linda didn't just serve customers, she got to know them and cared about them as she did for the staff she mentored. She was very involved in the Bluffton community including serving on the Village Tree Commission and university Nature Preserve committees. A member of First Mennonite Church, she served on committees and as a trustee.

Linda was the consummate baker, known especially for her cranberry scones. She loved to ride her bicycle, often logging over 2,000 miles per year and, with Hans, loved to explore natural areas including mountains, marshes and ocean beaches. At home, she created and cared for beautiful flower gardens with a special love for Day Lilies, and when she wasn't gardening, she was knitting. She delighted in the natural world and was a passionate birdwatcher, spending part of each day looking for birds and sharing sightings with her birding friends.

She lived life and made friends with boundless energy and contagious enthusiasm and above all, she loved and cared for her family. Linda is survived by her husband of 49 years, Hans Houshower, sons Sam (Eleanor Blume) and Nick (Khorshid Rahmaninejad), grandchildren Theo, Rapha and Anahita and sister Carol (Katie Boardman) Beechy. Her family misses her deeply but are glad that she can now soar with the birds.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday August 20, 2022 at First Mennonite Church, Bluffton at 11:00 a.m. with visiting from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are welcomed to support the programs of Camp Friedenswald (www.friedenswald.org) and Black Swamp Bird Observatory (www.bsbo.org ). Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted with Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.