Linda Gest

Linda Ann Gest, 71, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at home in Waunakee, WI. Linda was born in Madison, WI on June 19, 1953, to Robert and Wanda (Lipczynski) Swanson. Linda graduated from Madison East High School in 1971 and completed her associate’s degree in administration from Madison Area Technical College in the following years. 

In 1974, Linda began dating her long-time childhood neighbor Randy Gest. They soon were married in 1976 and built their house in Waunakee in 1978. Linda started her career with the Wisconsin Association for Retarded Citizens (WARC) along with her sister Sue, then moved onto a career at Oscar Mayer in the graphics packaging department. After that she worked at various promotional suppliers in the Madison area.

Linda is survived by her husband Randy Gest, daughters Kristin (Jake) Statz of Martinsville; Ashley Gest (Kevin Schuetz) of Sun Prairie; sister Sue Swanson of Freeport and brother Jim (Cindy) Swanson of Brookfield; brother-in-law Jeff (Jane) Gest of Poynette; grandchildren Braydon, Sophie & Matson Statz along with many other friends and relatives. She is preceded in death by her brother Doug Swanson in 2020 and her parents. 

Linda loved shopping, interior decorating, traveling with her family to Disney and Tuscon, was a NASCAR enthusiast, cooking and hosting for family. She also enjoyed golfing and a nice red wine or brandy old fashioned. She showed her love to others by spending quality time together, offering acts of service, giving thoughtful gifts, expressing kind words of affirmation, actively listening and showing genuine appreciation through compliments. She always was one to put others before herself and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Visitation will be on Friday, December 13, 2024, at Winn-Cress Funeral Home in Waunakee from 5 p.m. to 7 p. m. Inurnment will be held at Roselawn Memorial Park, Monona at a later date. 

Please share your memories of Linda here on her tribute page. 

Winn-Cress Funeral Home

5785 Hwy Q, Waunakee

(608) 849-4513