Linda D. Kroeze, age 74, a resident of Wheaton, IL, passed away on Saturday, May 24, 2025.  She was born January 16, 1951 in Kansas City, Missouri to Raymond Floyd & Eleanor Carter.

Linda grew up in Kansas City, Missouri where she lived until she was 12. Her family then moved to Palatine, Illinois where she finished out her junior high and high school years (Fremd High School).  She was a member of the Palatine Baptist Church where she was fully engaged in church activities.

Upon graduating from Fremd High School, Linda attended Wheaton College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education along with a minor in Music Education. She used her education to teach elementary school and then became a full-time piano teacher for over 57 years. She gave private lessons and worked for the Wheaton Park District for 13 years as a piano teacher. Her career as a piano teacher permitted her the flexibility to stay home to raise her five children and participate actively in church work.

Linda spent her first three years after college in New Jersey where she taught school and continued her piano teaching career. Then in 1976 she moved back to Illinois where she lived in Arlington Heights for 15 years, and then Wheaton for 35 years.

Throughout her life, Linda was actively involved in church work as a Sunday School teacher, pianist, and organist in our church services. She was also a women's Bible Study Leader in "Place 4 You" for many years at Wheaton Bible Church.

Linda was also a member of the P.E.O. Chapter EN, Wheaton (philanthropic, educational organization). The sisterhood was founded in 1879 at Iowa Wesleyan University and has raised many millions of dollars to support women seeking higher education, including international students.

Linda invested her personal life in her five children and 10 grandchildren. As an only child, Linda always wanted a large family. She loved them all dearly. No sacrifice was too great to support and love them. She was a committed, loving wife, mother and grandmother.

She is survived by her husband of over 52 years, David; her children Steven, Erin (Roy) Gayton, Ryan, David (Meredith), Kristin (Alexander Adams) Kroeze; her ten grandchildren: Kelsey, Carter, Carson, Caden, Joshua, Luke, David, George, Eleanor "Ellie" and Karis; her brothers & sisters-in-law: Kathy (Lindsay) Evans, Edgar (Michele) Kroeze, Ellen (Tom) Clay, Mark Kroeze, Libby (Joel) Steele, Jim (Claire) Kroeze and Martha (Bruce) Harvey. Also survived by her cousins Karen, Nancy, Connie, Shawn & Kelly. She was preceded in death by her parents.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, June 8, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton, IL 60187. A funeral service will be held at College Church in Wheaton, 332 E. Seminary Ave., Wheaton, IL 60187, on Monday, June 9, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The service will be livestreamed here: Funeral Service for Linda Kroeze . Interment will be private at Memory Gardens in Arlington Heights, IL.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to the Conservatory of Music at Wheaton College. Donations by check may be made out to Wheaton College and sent to Advancement Services, 501 College Avenue, Wheaton, IL 60187. Please kindly indicate the name of the individual associated with the memorial gift on the online giving form or check memo line.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.