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Linda Duncan Obituary

Linda Duncan A lifetime resident of Humboldt County, Linda passed away Christmas week at the age of 62. She is survived by her two children Kara and Jesse Duncan, her daughter-in-law Hilma Duncan, and grandchildren Vanessa, Jaqueline, Alex, Catherine, and Jonathan Duncan, all residents of Fortuna, CA. Linda is also survived by her stepdad Richard Kneaper, her sisters Dee Hoffman Wills and Tracy Kneaper, her brother Duke Kneaper, and nieces and nephews Lindsey Viscarra, Brian Wills, Wyatt Kneaper, Jesseca Randstrom, and Nikkolas Randstrom. Linda was preceded in death by her parents Lester Hoffman and Delores "Susie" Kneaper, both long-time residents of Eureka. Linda was born in 1952 at St. Joseph Hospital. She attended school at Sacred Heart Elementary School and then St. Bernard's High School. Following her high school graduation in 1970, Linda began a career as a legal secretary, most recently serving as a paralegal for the law offices of Stokes, Rowe, Hamer, and Kaufman where she specialized in estate and probate law, a specialization that allowed her to interact with elderly people for whom she held a special affection. Linda's health took a turn in 2004 when she began a long battle with throat cancer. With quiet determination she endured aggressive treatments for many years and in July 2014 recurring infections resulted in declining neurologic function. She passed six months later. At the end of her life she was under the care of a remarkably loving nursing home staff and was visited by family daily. She passed peacefully in her sleep. Linda's greatest joy in life was being a mother and grandmother. As a young mom she was actively involved in her children's lives, attending every sporting event, competition and recital. She approached her role as a grandmother with the same tireless enthusiasm. Linda was an avid reader and twice traveled to Great Britain to visit the home of her favorite author James Harriot. She was a prolific knitter, a great lover of cats and dogs, and an excellent cook,-- known far and wide for "Auntie's famous chili." Linda was a beloved member of the Eureka community and will forever be remembered as a first-rate hugger. Donations on Linda's behalf may be made to Miranda's Animal Rescue in Fortuna. A memorial service will be held this spring (to be announced). All will be welcome to attend. Please sign the guestbook at www.times-standard.com and click on obits.

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Published by Times-Standard from Jan. 10 to Jan. 11, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Linda Duncan

22 Entries

Renie Falor

January 20, 2015

Linda was my friend.We were never best friends, but regardless of our degree of closeness, she was one of the best friends I've ever had. Being members of the 1970 Class of St.Bernard's, made us all special, but Linda was one of the key points in making us so. Aside from her open loving heart, 24/7, she also showed us a degree of perfectionism we could do nothing more than applaud and immolate. As a "Song Queen" she simply made the cheerleaders wanna be's "princesses" by comparison. Linda applied a perfectionists attitude to everything she believed in. The uniforms she designed, and the intricate routines she choreographed and directed, all made us yearn for video phones long before they were invented! Linda did not cheer simply for our teams, but oh, so, much more for our class.

Social convention dictated that a girl had to be at least one month younger than a boy if she was ever to date him. So, year after year, as the girls' opportunities faded, Linda, and her team, stepped in. As of our Sophomore year their team of telephone evangelists swept in. A week before home coming or one of the essential proms, the phone calls would start coming in, "Do you have a date? Well, we know these boys are free; give us afew names you'd prefer". If the guy was still too shy to make the call, Linda's group would do it for them!

We worked together, we studied together, and we played together. Linda may have understood the emotional need for "cliques", but more than anything, she understood the need for a class identity. And unity! We built the strongest image of unity Saint Bernard's has yet to see!
Linda, and her finally picked cadre, understood, that their first calling was not just to be friends, but to be the web makers that kept our remarkable class spun together. The energy those webs kept us entrance with, even as we walked a way from reunion to reunion, has helped form the backbone of us all.

This summer will be our 45th reunion. I wouldn't miss it for the world. But, even more so, in Linda's honor, I'd be happy to help; if nothing else, just by calling every other classmate. Just as Linda would have done, and, now that she has gone, what each and ever one of us should do, to simply honor her indomitable commitment to us all.

Tom Stokes

January 19, 2015

Kara, Jesse, and grandchildren, I am saddened by the loss of your mother and grandmother. Linda was a special person and good friend. She is missed.

Tim and Marie Cochrane

January 17, 2015

Kara, Jesse and Family - we were saddened to learn of your mom's passing. She was vivacious, positive and always glad to see us. And boy, did she love those grand kids!

Our lives are richer for having known her. Heartfelt condolences to each of you as you deal with this tremendous loss.

Nancy and Bob Steffen

January 16, 2015

Linda was a very special person with her infectious smile and positive attitude. She was always extremely generous with her time and talents. Even when she was not feeling her best, Linda never complained. She was an integral part of planning our class reunions and we shared many laughs. Above all else, Linda loved her family and was a very proud mom and grandma. She will be dearly missed.

Vicky Rosser

January 15, 2015

It was always so wonderful to see how much Linda loved her children and grandchildren. You will be missed.

JOANNE AND JACK SMITH

January 15, 2015

JESSE,HILMA AND FAMILY.
WE WERE VERY SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR MOTHERS PASSING AWAY..WE ENJOYED OUR MEETING AT THE VARIOUS GAMES THAT OUR GRANDCHILDREN COMPETED IN. SHE TRULY LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF BEING THEIR GRANDMOTHER.

January 15, 2015

Sorry on the lost of you mother,sister,gramma. Linda was a friend and classmate who was always positive and never,never said anything bad about any person. Her smile was up lifting. Ihave not seen Linda in a couple of years, but her time in this world will be remember by all.
Jerry Mathias
Class of 70

Elizabth Ayers

January 15, 2015

So sorry for your loss. Linda and I became friends our freshman year. Spent a lot of time at the Foot of the Bay. Liz Ayers - Class of 70.

Leslie Ames

January 14, 2015

I knew Linda through HCLPA. She was a wonderful woman with a heart of gold. She will be greatly missed.

Pat & Tami Walsh

January 13, 2015

Dear Kayla, Jesse, Hilma, Vanessa Jaqueline,Alex Catherine and Johnathin: We are so saddend at the loss of your mom and gramma, she was a loving soul. We were fortunate enough to have grandkids the same age so we would turn up at sporting events together routing for each others grandkids who were always playing against each other. Did any of you learn how to make her "Aunties famous chili?" I heard it was delicious! God Bless you and Keep you, may his face shine upon you.

Tom Allen

January 13, 2015

Condolences to Linda's family. Linda was one of the 'go to' people when you wanted something done in high school. Based on the tributes in this book, she never stopped.

Tom Allen, Class of 70

Donna Weisse

January 13, 2015

I am so sorry for your the loss of such a wonderful lady. Linda was always ready to help anyone that asked. She love to knit, but even more, she loved to teach people to knit. I know this first hand, because when I first met Linda she was ready and eager to give me a knitting lesson. I spent many a lunch hour knitting with Linda, since we worked together at Stokes, Rowe, Hamer & Kaufman, law offices. If a mistake was made during a knitting lesson or even on my own, she would always tell me "That's okay, we can fix it." Linda also showed her love for animals on a daily bases. Many times we would share or pet stories and if there was a lost dog, cat or other animal, you could count on Linda to come to the rescue. Even it if meant stopping her car in the road to get out to assist the lost animal. Linda was loved by many and will be missed by all.
RIP Miss Linda, you are and always will be loved by many!!!!

Wyatt Kneaper

January 12, 2015

I love you auntie Linda, may you be alright and watch us as we go from above.

Buffy Kavich-Susavilla

January 12, 2015

So sorry to hear of Linda's passing. She was so talented and beautiful in every way. She will be missed. Class of 1970.

January 12, 2015

I am so sorry that you have lost your lovely Linda .....I met her in elementary school and have so many fun memories of those years as well as our high school days. We were always reading books together and Linda was always working on a fabulous sewing project! So sad to lose a special person .
Celeste ( Farmer) Teters, Pier Cove , MI

Martha Traphagen

January 12, 2015

Linda was such a special person...we have been friends since the early days in Beatrice/Hookton Rd. She will be missed by her family and friends.

Lynn Anne Brickwedel

January 12, 2015

I am so saddened for your loss of your mom and grandma.
Linda was the most positive, happy, and joyful lady that I knew.
She was happy and always had a smile on her face with a warm greeting.

Many of us have known Linda since Sacred Heart Elementary School and St. Bernard's high School.

We saw each other get married, have children and grandchildren.
We had a blast planning many high school reunions together.
I was with Linda quite a bit when planning our last high school reunion.
She was quite ill and not feeling well but would not let anyone know.
She was an excellent seamstress.
She loved knitting, needlepointing and crocheting.
She was always making something for someone.
And my gosh, the books she had in her home!
She read everything and loved it.
She was so proud of her family and always talking about them.

Goodbye dear friend.

?? Love you Linda.
Lynn Anne (Jackson) Brickwedel
St. Bernard's Class of 1970

John Stokes

January 11, 2015

A great lady and legal assisant, never complained about her tough times

charles petersen

January 11, 2015

jesse,
we're so sorry for your loss.
your mother was an awesome person.
our thoughts and prayers are with you.
we extend our deepest sympathy to you and your family.
love-charles petersen and family.

Barbara Hayhurst Masterson

January 11, 2015

So sad to hear. I will remember her piercing my ears in high school with ice and a potatoe. She also made my formal for the
junior senior prom. Sweet memories.

Vickie White

January 11, 2015

We extend our deepest sympathy to Linda's beloved children Kara and Jesse, and family members. Linda was like a constant ray of sunshine, always smiling with a positive perspective of life. She was totally devoted to her children and I'm sure that devotion continued with the grandchildren as well. We were blessed with her presence in our lives and the wonderful memories shared with her will remain.

Joanie Griffith

January 10, 2015

I am so sad to learn of Linda's passing. She was a good friend of mine in the seventies. I will always remember her as very smart, able to do so many things well, and always a happy person. She was such a cute person who loved her family and friends so much, and her dogs, too. I will never forget all the fun we had together. She was the best person! My deepest sympathy to her sisters and brother, her children, Kara and Jesse, and all the rest of her loving family and friends. She left us too soon. Joanie Griffith

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