Suzanne Lee Linton

Sue Linton (nee: Suzanne Zinke), 67, (Madison, Portage) released her spirit with a deep breath and a smile on her face. Family and close friends were grateful to be present in her transition as our silent warrior embarked on her final journey: from December 21 Winter Solstice to December 23, 2025. She humbly lived a full life of dignity and grace while on the side, she met multiple sclerosis and breast cancer with fierceness and determination to thrive. Her inner fire forged the path forward.

Sue managed life’s negatives with positive energy. She was a loving daughter, mother, grandmother, sister, and auntie, and a loyal, kind, and gentle friend with a deep, listening heart. Generous with her time and natural talents, the world is a better place; her keen sense of stewardship for just causes may lend inspiration to all whose lives she touched.

Born in Illinois the week of the summer solstice, June 26, 1958 to Diane (Davis O’Neall Sarbacker Balzer) and David Zinke, her family moved to their dad’s hometown in Portage three years later. Sue’s fiery spirit showed up early in adventures with her two siblings and neighborhood kids on Wisconsin Street.

Sue joined Camp Fire Girls and 4-H and often took care of younger siblings as her mom worked and earned a college degree. Frequent library visits forged Sue’s love for education. She played on Portage’s first girls basketball team and prepped for college with advanced science and math classes. She graduated a proud Portage Warrior near the top of her class in 1976.

Family was everything. Her son and daughter, along with grandchildren, are her best accomplishments. She treasured joyous adventures: annual applesauce canning event, building gingerbread houses, stateside travel, basketball tournaments, and competitive Cheer events. Outside of the U.S., she’s seen Costa Rica, France, Galapagos Islands, Greece, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, and Mexico.

The State of Wisconsin benefited from her financial prowess. She began her career working at the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). Later she joined the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), Division of Finance and Management, retiring 2016 as Tony Evers’ CFO. On the side, she served as treasurer for several organizations: Association of Educational Federal Finance Administrators (AEFFA), Institute of Internal Auditors, Association of Government Accountants, and One Heart Circle. She wrote grants for Potter's Farm, Inc.

In 2007, Sue’s sister introduced her to the concept of building an earthen works medicine wheel, Verona (and later another, Black Earth). Sue learned teachings of the Delicate Lodge, an earth wisdom tradition, that offered insight into vibrant conscious living, exercising one’s inner power with love, joy, beauty, and dreaming into who she wanted to be. Her trainings introduced her to lifelong friends around the world. She was certified to teach this wisdom way as a Council Guide, completed Black Lodge and Evocative Leadership Mastery. Always of service, she assisted in many seasonal ceremonies at Potter’s Farm, Washburn, Wisconsin, and created a Madison cancer-survivor support group that was meeting into November 2025. Graciously she served a women’s MoonLodge in Monona as well, to support girls and women through rites of passage. She believed in creating a new era of masculine and feminine energies living in balance.

Academic accomplishments: University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1980, BS in Accounting. CPA license, 1984 (Certified Public Accountant). Two Master Certificates in Management and Project Management.

Sue is survived by her son, Malikhi (Michele) Jahn, North Carolina, daughter, Brianna Jahn, California, sister Lauranne (Merle) Bailey, Wisconsin, aunt Toby Davis, grandchildren: Zoe, Meira, Naiya, Leiah, and Daelin, nieces and nephews Savannah and Cooper Sarbacker, Samantha (Karl) Fast and Neill Bailey, cousins Bruce, Kevin and Scott Davis, Donna Cowman, special lifelong girlfriends Lori (Roy) Knapton and Jean (James) Rader, former husbands Glen (Terri) Jahn and Richard Linton, relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Steven Sarbacker, influential maternal grandmother Dr. Bouri Macaulay Flesch and grandfather Charles Davis, paternal grandparents Carl and Edith Zinke, uncle Bill Davis, and cousin Gordon Faerber.

Thank you to ALL who supported her along the way.

Sue’s Celebration of Life will be held in the spring of 2026.  

Memorials may be made to the family in care of Cress funeral home.

Rest easy DiamondHawk, RedPhoenix, Suzy. Until we meet again.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services

3610 Speedway Rd      Madison

608-238-343