Linda Isabel Nicolaison - Obituary

inda Nicolaison November 19, 1948 – December 22, 2025 Linda was born on November 19, 1948 in Wausau, WI. She started dating Dick as a sophomore in high school. She graduated from DC Everest High School and then UW-Eau Claire, with a degree in education. They were married for 55 years. Linda was a passionate and devoted teacher who loved helping her young students learn to read and understand math. She touched the lives of countless children, many of whom adored her and remembered her long after leaving her classroom. Linda loved the color yellow. She enjoyed gardening during summer breaks, playing bridge (with more talking than playing), participating in her “Bad Girls of the Bible” group at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, watching Nickolas play basketball, and spending time with family and friends. For the past five years, Linda lived in Maryland to be closer to family during the later stages of her long journey with Parkinson’s disease. She faced her illness with grace and quiet strength. In her final year of life, she was lovingly cared for by the staff at Country Home Assisted Living. Linda died on Monday, December 22, 2025. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Margaret (Midge) Goertz; her brother, Jeff Goertz; and her brother-in-law, Jerry Prichard. She is survived by her husband, Richard Nicolaison; her daughter, Sara (Justin) Yotter; her grandson, Nickolas, all of Davidsonville, MD; her brother, John (Stephanie) Goertz of Irma, WI; her sisters-in-law, Ina Prichard of Hartford, WI, and Nancy (Elroy) Zemke of Rothschild, WI; and many other beloved extended family members. A memorial service will be held at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Appleton, Wisconsin on Monday January 12th with visitation beginning at 10:30 am and worship at 11:30 am, with a luncheon following. The worship will also be livestreamed on the YouTube Page of Prince of Peace at https://youtube.com/@princeofpeacelutheranchurc2164?si=e1gJf4jxcPUoTBTt Memorial gifts may be given to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Appleton, Wisconsin, or Joy Reigns Lutheran Church in Edgewater, Maryland.