Linda Scharf

Linda was born on March 24, 1950, in Fort Dodge, Iowa to C. Donald and Ruth Horn Scharf. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and St. Luke Lutheran Church in Mesa Arizona. Linda was baptized on April 16, 1950, and confirmed on March 22, 1964, at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

Linda was preceded in death by her mother Ruth in 2016 and father C. Donald in 2018. She is survived by her Aunt Barb Dueker of Mesa, Arizona and her Aunt Louise Schmoker of Fort Dodge, Iowa as well cousins, Ann McBride, Luann Hartung, Dennis Dueker, Gary Horn, Greg Horn, Maureen McCubbin, Mary Ellen Herrmann, Mark Horn, Carolyn Nelson, Christine Schill, Amy Wiggs, William Saxton and cats Lucy and Sammy.

Linda attended St. Paul Lutheran Parochial School through the eighth grade and graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High School with the class of 1968. Linda graduated from the University of Iowa with advanced degrees in Spanish and French. In 1985 Linda graduated from Loyola University Chicago School of Law where she obtained her Juris Doctorate degree. Linda was a writer and analyst for Wolters and Kluwer focusing on Tax Law. In retirement Linda was extremely involved in Laughter therapy and became a Certified Laughter Leader, Certified Laughter Yoga Leader and World Laughter Tour Trailblazer. Linda had many loves. She shared her love of reading with others by organizing and hosting a book club in the Mesa area. She loved the Theater and attended many performances in the Phoenix/Mesa area with family members and friends and loved to travel taking trips on the Mississippi River, Mexico, Sanibel Island, Hawaii, Germany and Alaska with family and close friends Melanie and Mike, and Betty. She enjoyed family summer gatherings at Camp Okoboji with the Saxtons and holiday weekends at the Dueker cabin in Pine, Arizona. Linda was an avid 500 card player, like both her grandmothers, mother, all her aunts and several cousins.

A memorial service will be held for Linda at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge, Iowa on August 9, 2025. A visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the start of the service at 10:30 a.m. Linda's family requests you join them for a luncheon and fellowship in the church social room following her service. Laufersweiler Funeral Home is serving the family.

Memorials can be designated to the following charities which were very important to Linda, St. Paul Lutheran Church Fort Dodge, Iowa, St. Luke Lutheran Church Mesa, Arizona, Cancer Wellness Center, Northbrook, Illinois and St. Jude Children's Hospital Memphis, Tennessee.