Linda M. Thompson
MADISON-Linda M. Thompson, age 59, passed away surrounded by her family and friends on Thursday, May 10, 2012, at Agrace HospiceCare.
She was born on Jan. 4, 1953, in Elkhorn, the daughter of Charles and Ardeth (Austin) McCabe. Linda was raised on the family farm along with her four siblings. Linda graduated from Evansville High School in 1971. Following high school, she received a degree in respiratory therapy from Madison Area Technical College, a B.S. in Zoology from UW-Madison in 1989, and a M.S. in Adult Education from UW-Platteville in 2002.
Linda worked as a registered respiratory therapist at University of Wisconsin Hospitals prior to her teaching career at Madison Area Technical College. During her 35 year career in the respiratory therapy program at MATC, she worked as a dedicated teacher, clinical coordinator and program director. She was instrumental in the success of the program and the success of hundreds of practicing respiratory therapists, some of whom came to take care of her during her stays at UW Hospital. She formed close ties with those she taught and they were proud to call her a dear friend. In addition to serving on numerous committees at MATC, Linda was also a member of the American Association for Respiratory Care and the Wisconsin Society of Respiratory Care. Linda loved her job and all those she worked with.
She married James Thompson on April 8, 1978, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Madison. Linda enjoyed reading, watching movies, going for walks and spending time in her flower garden. She was a true example of strength and positivity during the most difficult of times. Linda will be greatly missed by her husband, Jim; sons, C.J. and Chad; her dog, Duke, who brought her the paper every morning; siblings, Connie Myers, Patti Trotter, and Mike (Marilyn Feil) McCabe; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Don Thompson, Betty Lou (Al) Keup, Rhonda (Bill) Flemming, Dale (Jean) Thompson, Jerry Thompson, Barb (John) Reierson, Bob (Linda) Thompson, Rick Thompson, and Ron Thompson; many nieces and nephews; and special friend, Gail Walker, who has been more like a sister to her the last 40 years. She was preceded in death by her parents; and brother, Dan McCabe. A Celebration of Life will be held at MONONA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 606 Nichols Road, Monona, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 16, 2012.
Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, and also at church from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Wednesday.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Agrace HospiceCare.
The memory of Linda will go on forever in the hearts and minds of the students, coworkers, friends and family whose lives she touched. She continued to teach us about caring, compassion and to love life during her journey with cancer. A special thanks goes out to all the staff, volunteers, and caretakers at Agrace HospiceCare who became close friends with Linda and found her to be an inspiration. Linda came to think of Agrace as her home and all of the wonderful people there as her family, a sentiment that is shared by her family and friends.
