WOODSTOCK, ILL. 

Linda J. Frenk (nee Laitinen) 


Linda J. Frenk (nee Laitinen) of Woodstock, Ill., passed away Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012, at the age of 57 after a brilliant and hard-fought battle with cancer.

But while she was here, she really lived! In her younger years, Linda was active in community theater, having performed in, directed or choreographed more than 60 productions at Waukesha Civic Theatre, Carroll College, Shorewood Players, the Milwaukee Players and summer stock in Lake Geneva. Among her favorites were “My Fair Lady,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Godspell,” “Anything Goes,” “Guys and Dolls” and “Hello, Dolly!”

Linda graduated from Waukesha South High School in 1973 and later graduated cum laude from Carroll College. She taught high school English and theater for several years before entering the telecommunications industry, where she had a very successful career for more than 30 years. Most recently, she was able to combine her love of teaching and sales as a regional training consultant for Windstream Communications, where she worked in a four-state territory developing sales talent.

Linda was known for her generous spirit and thoughtful gift giving and she knew how to make holidays special. She loved to decorate her home and kept a tree up all year round that she changed with the seasons. Her favorite was fall when she could bring out her collection of witches, and her halls when decked for Christmas were breathtaking. She was an avid reader, loved movies, dancing, singing, shopping and was a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan.

Linda will be greatly missed by her Dream Team: her love of a lifetime, husband, Ken, and beloved cat, Scout; parents, Robert and Doris Laitinen of Waukesha; sister, Janet (Jim) Vaughan; nephew, Mitchell of Eagle, Idaho; Kathi Cabeke; nephew, James; niece, Samantha of Keller, Texas; stepson, Ryan (Jeni) Frenk; grandchildren, Nolan and Kaitlin of Harvard, Ill.; stepdaughter, Kelly (Tracy) Wilson; grandchildren, Keshia and Jolie of Sapulpa, Ohio; sister-inlaw, Pam (Bob) Taunis of Harvard; special friends, Katie (Rob) Lesser, and their children, Sequoia, Aspen, Raven and Ashton of Woodstock; her shopping buddy and life mentor, Dr. Paula (Paul) Crandall-Decker of Hartland; and lifelong friend, Connie (John) Borley of Grapevine, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Waukesha Civic Theatre in Linda’s memory or Helping Paws.

Linda’s favorite movie was “The Wizard of Oz,” and as Dorothy said, “There’s no place like home.” Linda is home now.

A celebration of Linda’s life will be held from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, at Church and Chapel Funeral Home, 380 Bluemound Road (at highways J and JJ, four blocks south of Interstate 94), Waukesha. A service will be held at noon, followed by burial at Highland Memorial Park, 14875 W. Greenfield Ave., New Berlin.

Church and Chapel Rudolph-Larsen Bros. Funeral Home is serving the family. For more information, call 827-0659 or visit www.churchandchapel.com to view the online obituary, leave condolences or receive directions.