Linda Ann Sholty (nee Mikel) peacefully passed away on June 3rd, 2025, surrounded by her beloved family. She was 76.

She is survived by her husband and partner for all of her life’s joys, Stephen, her daughter Rhonda (Greg) Pachowitz, son Mikel Chad (Becky), and son Jason Cameron (Farah). While her children may not have always brought her peace, their children gave her purpose and brought her a wonderment of life’s blessings. Theodore, Rachel (Owen), Joseph (Belle), Isabella, William, Lucas, Amber, Lulu, and Emerson are heirs to her wisdom, compassion, and embarrassing stories of their parents.

Born in Bloomington, Illinois on March 3, 1949 to Howard “Buss” Mikel and Anna Christine (nee Erickson), she was the younger sister to Helen Menken and the older sister to Sylvia Erickson who later in life joined Linda and Steve in Wisconsin. Buss passed away early in his young daughter’s lives and then were raised by their spirited mother.

Linda and Steve married in 1967 and started their life’s adventures on Railroad Avenue in Normal, Illinois, but later made homes in Charlton, NY, Muskego, WI, and wound down their work in Genesee, WI.

Her legacy is one of faith, undying devotion to her family, a deep love for Independence Day, and an inexplicable fondness for those garbage marshmallow treats—Peeps—especially after they’ve aged and hardened.

An uncomplicated woman, while Linda worked most of her life, her calling was being a wife, mother, and grandmother; of which she had no equal. To Steve, she was the glue that held their joint venture together; to her children she was their fiercest advocate and defender; and to her grandchildren she was their caretaker, their secret-keeper, and their intervenor to their parents.

The hole left in the family is without a bottom, yet we will spend the months and years ahead filling it with our love of my wife, our mom, and our grandmother and the innumerable stories of her generosity, grace, and belief in us.

We would like to thank the nurses, doctors, and the many professionals that provided so much care and compassion the last couple of years, especially Liz and Dr. Alqwasmi. And to Bruce and Laurie, we are so grateful for your help and friendship to the family. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Team Up With Families/Katy’s Kloset in Waukesha, WI.

Visitation will be held at Schmidt & Bartelt Funeral Home in Wauwatosa on Saturday, June 14, 2025 from 12:00 until time of Memorial Service at 2 pm.