Linda Macaruso

Macaruso, Linda Lee (Wuethrich)

1946 - 2013

Linda Lee (Wuethrich) Macaruso died of a heart attack on February 25, 2013, at her home in Lantana, FL.

On Oct. 1, 1946, Linda was born in Black River Falls, WI and subsequently adopted by her late parents, Lee Allen and Nellie Wuethrich of Greenwood.

She completed her bachelor's degree in K-12 education and art at Mount Senario College in Ladysmith, WI, where she met her late husband, Victor Macaruso.

Linda was a lifelong teacher who encouraged a love of learning and nurtured creativity in every student she encountered. She began her teaching career as a second grade teacher in the Neillsville area in the mid-1960s. She continued her career as a Kindergarten teacher and taught several other grades in a time span of over 15 years at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School in Ladysmith. Linda spent the final five years of her employment teaching her true passion, K-12 art at Cornell Public Schools in Cornell.

In her younger years, she took advantage of all Wisconsin had to offer with her love for riding horses, snowmobiling, and driving her speedboat in Lake Holcombe. It was never a complete trip for Linda if she didn't take the scenic route or a road less traveled in her many journeys across the country and abroad.

Linda was a true artist who was not only passionate about creating art but also looked at the world and saw the beauty as only an artist can. She had many creative talents and her lifelong passion for art meant that no medium was left unexplored during her lifetime.

Linda is survived by her brother, Samuel Wuethrich; her children, Melissa (Jeffrey) Belda of Schaumburg, IL; Mario (Sarah) Macaruso of Minneapolis, MN; and Monica (Shawn) Potter of Alexandria, MN; and her grandchildren, Malayna Belda and Isaac Potter.

To commemorate her enthusiasm and passion for literature and early reading, and in lieu of flowers, donations in Linda's memory may be sent to The Dollywood Foundation Imagination Library, 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd., Pigeon Forge, TN 37863, Website: http://imaginationlibrary.com/shop/Donate-to-Dolly-Parton-s-Imagination-Library.html.

Or local donations may be made to the Rusk County Community Library, 418 Corbett Ave. W., Ladysmith, WI 54848.

Linda believed that a life should be celebrated so her family will be holding a memorial service at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 15, at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Ladysmith.

The Nash-Jackan Funeral Home is assisting with the arrangements.