Linda Loree Weburg

      Linda Loree Weburg, age 82, of Ithaca, MI, passed away in Florida after a brief battle with mesothelioma and joined her Lord in heaven on Monday, March 3, 2025.
      Linda Loree Allen was born on February 28,1943, in Alma Michigan to Nile Rasor Allen and Fern Agnes (Clark) Allen of rural Ithaca, MI., the second of four daughters. Linda and her sisters grew up on the family farm in Emerson Township where they raised cash crops, chickens, sheep, dairy cattle and hogs. With no brothers, the “Allen girls” all worked on the farm, doing chores, tending the gardens and animals, and driving tractors. Linda attended country school through 8th grade and graduated from Ithaca High School in 1961. She played cornet in the IHS marching band and was the 1960 Ithaca Homecoming Queen. Linda was also the Michigan Bean Queen in 1961. A highlight of her reign was a trip to California and dancing with Bobby Burgess on the Lawrence Welk Show. After graduation, she completed secretarial studies at Central Michigan University and worked as a secretary at Leonard Refinery in Alma.
      Linda met her future husband, George Weburg, through the Gratiot County 4-H program. They dated throughout high school and married on August 12, 1962, at the Methodist Church in Ithaca. Linda embraced her role as a Farmer’s Wife, supporting George and the family business - Weburg Farms. They raised three children- Jennifer, Jeff, and Jamie-on the farm. Weburg Farms was named Gratiot County Farm Family of the year in 1989 and 2024.
     Throughout her life Linda was an active volunteer in the Jaycees, Gratiot 4-H, school, community, and church. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wheeler, MI. She was an officer of the Ladies Aid Society, attended Bible study, organized many church dinners, events, and worked as the church secretary for over 20 years, The Weburg’s have been members of the Gratiot Country Club/The Fields since the mid-1970s. Linda enjoyed golfing in the ladies’ league and with George in the couple’s league. Linda’s interest in genealogy lead to compiling the family tree and active involvement with the Gratiot County Historical Society. She enjoyed serving as a curator of the Gratiot Historical Museum and creating new exhibits each year.
       In 2004, George and Linda became “snowbirds” spending winters at their home in Winter Haven, Florida. They like to say they follow the golf, heading south when it’s too cold to golf in Michigan and returning north when it’s too hot to golf in Florida. They enjoy the many activities, card games and socials with their Florida friends and are active at Grace Lutheran Church. Linda shared her love of music by lending her lovely alto voice to many music groups. She was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church choir for over 50 years and sang with various small groups and ensembles. In Florida she joined the choir at Grace Lutheran and enjoyed singing with Oakwood Estates friends in their community choir. An avid quilter, Linda learned the skill in the Immanuel Lutheran Church Quilting group and kept quilting for over 40 years. She joined quilting groups in Michigan and Florida and helped organize annual quilt shows in Ithaca and Winter Haven. Linda’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are the lucky recipients of her many handmade quilts. 
      Perhaps Linda’s greatest love and accomplishment was her family. She enjoyed being part of their lives, took an interest in their activities and loved attending the sporting events, games, plays, and concerts of her children and grandchildren. She was thrilled to meet the next generation of great-grands.
     She is survived by her husband, George; their children: Jennifer (Nate) Simpson, Jeff (Amber) Weburg, and James (Alisha) Weburg; her grandchildren: Chase (Victoria) Simpson, Amanda Simpson (Riley Jackson), Ross Simpson (Lillian Baker), Graham Simpson, Josh (Amanda) Carullo, Koriane Carullo ( Bradley Simmit), Grace Weburg (Bronson Bupp), Grant Weburg, Logan (Elle) Zamarron, Bennett Weburg, Mason Weburg (Brynn Bootsma), Gibson Weburg; great-grandchildren Paxton, Porter and Cora Carullo, Russell Simmit, Brooks and Harrison Zamarron; her sisters: Sharon (Mel) Kapral, Connie Bentivegna, and Jane (Gary) McKenzie; in-laws: Dale & Camille Weburg, Joan & Larry Coon, and Ellen Arnie; and many nieces and nephews. Linda is reuniting in Heaven with her parents Nile & Fern Allen, in-laws George & Elsie Weburg, sister-in -law and brothers-in-law: Alice & Fuzz McCrory, Lou Bentivegna, Don Arnie, and nieces: Julie & Kara Sova.
      Funeral Services will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 10020 East Monroe Road, Merrill, MI 48637, on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Michael Podeszwa officiating. Burial will take place at Pine Grove Cemetery, Emerson Township, Michigan. Visitation will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, MI, on Friday, March 14, 2025, from 2-8 P.M. and again, on Saturday, March 15, 2025, from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the service at the church. A Memorial Service will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, Winter Haven, FL, at a later date.
      Memorials may be made in Linda’s memory to Immanuel Lutheran Church or the Gratiot Historical Museum. Online condolences may be made at www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, Michigan.