Clifford Linker

CLIFFORD R. LINKER, 92, died Sunday, June 30, 2013 at his home at Oakwood Village West in Madison.

Cliff was born in Davidson, OK on September 27, 1920. He attended school in Oklahoma before receiving a congressional appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. He graduated during WWII, and was commissioned as a naval officer in the Pacific theater. He served as executive officer aboard the USS Birmingham at the battle of Okinawa, where he was wounded in action. He was a recipient of the Purple Heart and finished his service after the War as a Navy pilot.

He moved to Chicago in 1949, and spent his professional career as a mechanical engineer for companies such as Western Electric, 3M, and Stewart-Warner Corp. He retired in 1985 and moved to Elgin, IL where he lived until moving into Oakwood in 2004. He was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran church in Madison.

He spent his leisure time in retirement working around the house, and was an accomplished woodworker. Some of his creations were sold at craft shows in the Elgin area. Although a fisherman in his early years, his main sports were golf and bowling. He participated in the bowling teams at his church in Chicago for many years, and later in recreational leagues in Elgin. He was a member and past president of the Elgin Kiwanis Club.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Ither Linker of Davidson, OK, his brother Hubert Linker of Long Beach, CA, and his sister Lorene Hullender of Frederick, OK.

He was the loving husband for 68 years of Marcella (nee Mackprang) also an Oakwood resident, dear father of Ronald Linker of Carol Stream, IL and Deborah (Donald) Beduhn of Madison. Cherished grandfather of Kristine Givens of Lake Zurich, IL, Lesley (Andy) Jensen of Jordan, MN, Susan (Chris) Prather of Normal, IL, Jeffrey Beduhn of Chicago, and Rebecca Beduhn of Fridley, MN. Great-grandfather to Megan, Lauren, Adeline, and Henry.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Oakwood Village West for creating and maintaining such a warm and caring atmosphere during the nine years that Cliff called Oakwood home. Also they would like to express their gratitude to Agrace HospiceCare for their expertise during his last days.

A memorial service is planned for July 21 at 1:30pm in the Resurrection Chapel at Oakwood Village, 6201 Mineral Point Rd., Madison. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. In lieu of flowers, a donation in memory of Cliff Linker to the Alzheimer's Association, 8430 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago 60631 would be appreciated.