Lyle Link

Lyle Louis Link 92, passed away in the early morning hours of Sunday, April 25, at AngelsGrace Hospice.  He was born to Louis and Elsie (Bartholomew) Link on August 4, 1917, on the family farm in New Berlin.  Later the family moved to a farm in the Town of Vernon where Lyle attended school and the Big Bend Baptist Church.  Lyle married the love of his life, Marion Elizabeth Ellarson in 1940 and they started married life farming in Big Bend. By 1950 they moved to Waukesha and Lyle began his business in the construction industry building homes; but soon moved to commercial construction. He formed Link Builders doing general contracting in the Waukesha and Milwaukee areas for the next 30 years. Lyle served his community during this time as a member of the Waukesha Rotary Club, commissioner on the South Eastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, on the board of the Salvation Army, and was an active member of the First Methodist Church for more than 50 years.  His passion for boating began with a canoe, which became a rowboat, and then graduated to a cabin cruiser (The Good Nuf).  Many adventures were had by the family with the Milwaukee Outboard Cruising Fleet, where lifelong friendships were made.  In 1967 Lyle added boat-building facilities to the grounds of Link Builders on Prairie Avenue.  Three trawlers were built here including the yacht “Amiga”. Lyle and Marion’s life would never be the same.  The “Amiga” became Lyle’s second great love and the couple’s winter home, cruising in Florida and the Bahamas for many years – 75,000 miles under her keel. Lyle’s quest for knowledge and natural curiosity sustained him throughout his life, reading and studying, working with his hands:  he wanted to know what made the world go around. In their 67 years together, Lyle and Marion enjoyed many boating adventures with their eight children, world travel, a deep appreciation for the beauty of this planet, and a love of the Florida Everglades.   Lyle will be greatly missed by his children: Jeanne (David Smith), Allen (Anne), Betsy (Lowell) Wolf, Susan, Sally (Michael) Fritzsche, Nancy (Robert) Lorenz, Carolyn, and Leslie (Richard) Paulus.  Grandchildren: Brian (Roxanne), Sean, Sarah (Ed), Devin (Amy), Rachel, Emily (Martin), Ryan (Gillian), Benjamin, Jason (Andrea), Matthew, Allison, Carly, William and Hannah  Great-Grandchildren: Lauren, Parker, Mac, Louis, Eliza, Henry, Gus, Silas, Oliver, Callan, Penelope, and three day old Tyler.  He is also survived by his sisters-in-law Jo Ellarson of Cedar Grove and MaryAnn Link of Muskego and the Kodi Dog, his eager and loving friend. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Marion, his brother Warren (Bud) Link, and his grandson, Nathan Fritzsche. A private family service will be held at Randle Dable Funeral Home. The Link family is forever grateful to the wonderful caregivers of Rolland Nelson Crossroads Hospice:  Wendy, Karen, Barth and especially Chaplain Cathy Labinski and her hospice ministry that meant so much to our Dad.  We are thankful for the gentle hands that cared for Dad at AngelsGrace in his final days. Memorials will be directed to Rolland Nelson Crossroads Hospice and Chaplain Labinski for her hospice ministry 1020 James Drive, Unit E  Hartland , WI 53029 . What joy there must have been in heaven when Dad and Mom were reunited!