Barbara Linskey

Barbara Linskey (nee Kokum) was born October 4, 1932, in Chicago. Her parents were Isabelle (nee Wheeler) and Barndt Kokum, and her older brother was John Kokum. After moving to Skokie, Barbara attended St. Peter's Catholic School and Niles Township High School, where her writing days began as the editor of the school newspaper. She went on to Beloit College, where she was a journalism major and met lifelong friends who started the Beloit Bridge Club, the "BBC", and all remained tightly connected for the next 70+ years.
After college, she enjoyed an early career in advertising in Chicago before marrying the love of her life and high school sweetheart, Edward Linskey, in 1955. For the next 65 years, they enjoyed a beautiful life journey together, created a home in the Chicago suburbs and raised their four daughters.
She remained rooted in her spiritual life at St. Raymond Church in Mt Prospect as editor of the church bulletin. Once her children were older, she started her "second career" with the Steel Founders Society as both their Technical Publications Editor and planner for their national and international meetings. This later-in-life career gave her and our dad extensive opportunities for travel, which they loved. Throughout their journey they visited 48 of the 50 states and many countries, where lifelong friendships and beautiful family memories were made.
Affectionately known as "Koko" to her many friends and, later, to her grandchildren, she loved lively conversation and was a great listener, always interested in what people had to say, especially if it involved reading, gardening or food! She was a creative spirit and accomplished writer known as the "historian" and documentarian, capturing all of life's major events for family and friends with cherished stories and photos.
She was ever the optimist – her motto to live by was "It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness." She was a loving wife and mother with a radiant spirit who was devoted to her family. We were blessed by her nurturing nature, guidance, and unconditional love.
Her enduring life legacy will be carried on by the many who loved her and will miss her dearly, including daughters Dr. Gail (Dr. Richard) Rosseau, Kay (Kevin) Slawin, Diane (Mark) Hauser and Margaret Linskey; grandchildren Elizabeth (Neil) Trainor, Laura (Ryan) Johnson, Ryan (Nikki) Slawin, Dr. Natalie and Brendan Rosseau, Sam and Andrew Hauser, and Madelyn (Linskey) Jones; and great-grandchildren Celeste and Audrey Trainor, and Clara and Jay Johnson.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at St Raymond Church in Mt Prospect, IL: st-raymond.org. All funeral arrangements were entrusted to Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium 410 E. Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL 60030. For more information log onto www.strangfuneral.org or contact (847)223-8122.