Linda Lou Legg

Linda Lou Legg, age 65, of Logan, Iowa passed away Sunday, March 11, 2012 at her home in Logan, Iowa. Linda was born August 27, 1946 in Anita, Iowa to Bernard and Muriel (Spies) Legg. Linda graduated from Anita High School. After graduation she married Francis Marnin, of Anita, Iowa and from this union, three children were born. Linda later divorced and went on to attend Iowa Western Community College and earn an Associate’s Degree. She enjoyed working for Smith, Peterson, Beckman and Wilson as a Probate Specialist in Council Bluffs, Iowa from 1977 until 1984. In 1984, she moved to Logan and opened up “Linda Lou’s” which she owned and operated up until her death. It was in Logan that she found great people and continued to build lifelong relationships with friends and customers. Linda never met a stranger. Linda is best known for great food, fine spirits and enjoying life. In July of 1994, she married Merrill Gardner they built and shared a beautiful home together, enjoying coffee, warm companionship and the daily cross word puzzle. Linda was preceded in death by her parents, step-father Aaron Bell, Brother Teddy Legg. Survivors include her husband: Merrill Gardner of Logan, Iowa; children LeeAnn Ullsperger and husband Scott of Idaho Falls, Idaho; Mike Marnin of Logan, Iowa; John Marnin and wife Kimberly of Omaha, Nebraska; five grandchildren: Nina Ullsperger, Brittany Marnin, Clayton Marnin, Maddison Marnin and Mason Marin; brothers: Richard Legg (Jan) of Griswold; Bernard Legg (Marge) of Ames, Iowa; John Legg (Joyce) of Tama, Iowa; and Lindy Legg, sister-in-law of Ames, Iowa. A Rosary will be held at 6:00 pm on Friday at Logan Memorial Chapel with visitation to follow until 8:00 pm. In Loving Memory Of Linda Lou Legg Born August 27, 1946 Anita, Iowa Entered Into Rest March 11, 2012 Logan, Iowa Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 17, 2012 St. Anne’s Catholic Church Logan, Iowa Celebrant Father Mike Berner Organist Judy Dinkel Selections “Ave Maria” “On Eagle’s Wings” “How Great Thou Art” Final Resting Place 2:00 p.m. Sunday, March 18, 2012 St. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery Atlantic, Iowa The family would like to invite everyone to a time of lunch and fellowship at the church immediately following mass. A Very Special Sister and Person Everybody should have a sister like Linda – unselfish, caring, generous, loving, but stern enough to speak her mind without being offensive. She was the little sister to three of us and a big sister to one, but that status never meant much when she had something to say. Growing up as the lone sister with four brothers may alone have been difficult enough, but she always managed to hold her own. She seldom missed one of our games. She would run our paper routes if a practice or game conflicted. Moreover she was our biggest fan. No one dared say anything negative about her brothers or the family without getting a piece of her mind. I think there were many incidents in her life’s journey that give you a glimpse of how special she was, but two really stand out. The first happened in the years following the death of our father. Linda had just turned two when he passed away. Our youngest brother John was born two weeks later. Five years went by before our mother remarried and it was Linda’s reaction that told her four brothers that everything was going to be all right. For a man to take on a widow and family of five in the depths of a recession speaks volumes for him. But it was Linda who put it all in perspective, when this little pony-tailed girl called our stepfather “Daddy.” I am sure that was a thrill for him, but her acceptance of a new father in lieu of one she had barely known was a wonderful gift to the entire family. Her love for a new father let the rest of know that everything was going to be just fine. The other incident happened several years later when her son Michael needed a heart operation in Houston, TX. A single mother of three, she did not have the money to make the trip to be with him. I gave her the cash she needed never expecting to be repaid. She needed to be there. Sometime later at a family reunion, I was fashionably late and when I arrived there was an envelope on my plate. Inside were crisp $100 bills amounting to $300 more than I had given her. She didn’t have to repay me. But her value system, a streak of Legg-independence, and determination said otherwise. I didn’t want to take the money but she insisted and for those who knew her that closed the discussion. What made it truly special is our mother and father witnessed it. They had raised a daughter who was accountable and responsible and what more could a parent want? I believe that upbringing helped her to a successful mother, grandmother, spouse, and business person. All in all, her life was not always easy, but you never heard her complain. It just wasn’t her style. Sis, as I liked to call her, had a natural inclination to make a stranger feel welcome; a friend who needed to talk feel that they had a listening ear in which they could confide; the less affluent to feel like they had something of value; and for those suffering or in pain a voice and hand that would ease it. While the doctor who examined her said she died of a heart attack, those of us who knew and loved her know that she died of a big heart – a good and faithful servant of Our Lord in many ways and one whose life was well lived. — Bud Legg

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