Linda J. Niles (Manske), succumbed to esophageal cancer surrounded by her family on June 3, 2013.

Linda was born in Madison, Wisconsin on December 30, 1949, to Raymond and Marion (nee Gossink) Manske. Linda lived in several states while her father was employed by the United States Weather Service; she resided in Bethpage, Long Island N.Y., until she graduated from Bethpage High School in 1967. She then moved to Shaftsbury, Vermont to attend St. Josephs College. It was there that she met her husband, James Niles, and was married on June 14, 1969.

Linda had a variety of jobs in management or secretarial capacities until retiring in 2010. In retirement, she worked part time as activities director at Mossflower Harbour in Mayville, Wisconsin. She had many hobbies she kept active with. She was active in Girl Scouts for 25 years; she was very active with her granddaughter at the Beaver Dam Family Center and Swan Sync Sation ice teams until present day. She loved crafting and tried to spend a week each summer on Washington Island at a Fiber Arts School learning techniques in quilting, basket making, wood carving, paper making, weaving, and many other craft related things. She loved being involved with her craft group, The Fine Arts Fellowship. She spent many weekends traveling with her granddaughter Christy as she competed in fast pitch softball and in ice skating competitions. Her greatest hobby was hot air ballooning; she was a crew chief and crew member with Sky Aces Balloon Company in Madison and attended the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque several times. Linda was always quick to lend a hand and pitch in where needed, helping at the yearly Swan Sync competition shortly before her death, helping open Camp Blackhawk for the Girl scouts, and taking her troop on many adventures. She was also an active EMT in Fox Lake for many years. Her biggest joy was being involved with her family, and being involved with her daughter, then her granddaughter and at the end, she was really getting into her great-granddaughter.

She is survived by her husband of 44 years James; her daughter Kathy; granddaughter, Christy (Jeffrey Arthur); and great-granddaughter Kaelynn, all of Beaver Dam; brothers-in-law, Bruce (Nancy) Niles, Peter S. (Michelle) Niles, both in Bennington, Vermont; sisters-in-law, Bridgette Niles of Fayetteville, NC, Wanda Sayce of Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, England and Sandra Niles of Buskirk N.Y.; her aunts, Fran Manske and Donna Gossink; several nieces and nephews; a special childhood friend, Sue Rimmer of Balliemore, Scotland and her partner in crime at the Family Center, Carol Noon.


She was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Marion Manske; her in-laws, Robert Niles Jr. and Louise; uncles, Phil Gossink, Jerry Manske and George Minor; aunt, Eunice Minor; and brothers-in-law, Robert M Niles III and Eric Niles.

The family would like to give a special thanks to Hillside Hospice and their staff for being with them during the end of Linda's journey. Also family friend, Kaity, who helped us with "Gramma."

A Memorial Gathering for Linda will be held on Friday, June 7, 2013 from 3:00 until 6:00 p.m. at Cornerstone Funeral & Cremation Services, 135 Keller Blvd. in Beaver Dam. A few remembrances of Linda will be shared at 6:00 p.m.


Cornerstone Funeral & Cremation Services in Beaver Dam is honored to be serving the family.