Linda Kay Weiand

Linda Weiand, age 74, of Thomson, Illinois, passed away on September 4, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family.

Linda was born in Princeton, Missouri, to Kenneth and Betty Ader. She married the love of her life, Roger Weiand, on May 31, 1996, after they began dating in 1985. Their more than four decades together were filled with love, family, laughter, and countless memories. Roger may occasionally disagree, but Linda was the boss.

Throughout her life, Linda enjoyed finding, refurbishing, and selling antiques and collectibles, something she carried forward from her parents. She worked for many years at Dollar General before retiring and later worked part-time at Tina’s Ice Cream Shop in Mount Carroll.

Family was at the center of Linda’s life. She especially loved bringing everyone together and had a way of turning family gatherings into events that people looked forward to year after year.

Christmas Eve at Linda’s house was one of those traditions. Everyone knew where they would be spending Christmas Eve. Linda went all out for her children, grandchildren, and family, filling the evening with games, prizes, presents, laughter, and plenty of surprises.

One of her most memorable traditions was the enormous Saran Wrap ball she created and filled with gifts. There were fantastic gifts, wonderfully corny gifts, and, fittingly for someone who loved gambling, plenty of lottery tickets. She also created games where family members could win prizes or choose something from the present pile. The gifts were fun, but the real entertainment was watching everyone compete, laugh, and enjoy the evening together.

Linda was a licensed auctioneer, enjoyed singing, and loved playing bingo with friends and family. She and her mother, Betty, were very close and would occasionally sing together, creating memories that will be cherished forever.

Some of her family’s favorite dishes she would make were her famous ice cream peanut butter pie and her signature pizza burger.

Linda was absolutely nuts about her squirrels. She could sit and watch them for hours as they figured out how to hold on while spinning around their feeders, enjoying every bit of their antics. She took great pleasure in watching the wildlife in her backyard and made it part of her everyday life.

Linda’s creativity could also be seen in the birdhouses she and Roger made together. Roger would build each house, and Linda would meticulously decorate it. What started as a simple birdhouse became a one-of-a-kind work of art. Every house was uniquely decorated, and no two were ever duplicated.

Linda is survived by her husband, Roger Weiand; her sons, Ken Quinn (Donna) and Larry Barker (Heather); her stepchildren, Mark Weiand (Jessica) and Matthew Weiand; her grandchildren, Logan Barker, Ryan Barker (Kamryn), Hailey Strohecker, Dalton Quinn, Becca Stiner, Alexis Strohecker, and Brooklyn Quinn; six great-grandchildren; her brother, Mike Ader (Katrina); and her sisters, Sharon May and Joyce Baceda (Gary), along with many extended family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Betty Ader, and her sister, Twila Hannah.

Linda will be remembered for her generous heart, her sense of humor, her creativity, and most of all, the way she brought people together. Her family will forever cherish the traditions she created, the holidays she made memorable, the things she made, the food she knew they loved, and the simple happiness she found in watching the wildlife in her backyard.

Linda had a way of making ordinary moments special simply by being herself. The memories she created with Roger, her children, grandchildren, siblings, and friends will continue to bring laughter and warmth to those who loved her.

She will be deeply missed and forever loved.

A celebration of Linda’s life will be held on Saturday, October 17, at the VFW in Sabula, Iowa. Food will be served beginning at 12:00 p.m., followed by an afternoon of bingo, laughter, and memories of Linda from 1:00–4:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages friends and loved ones to spend time with their own families, share a favorite memory of Linda, or simply do something that brings them joy in her memory.