Lloyd Linden

Lloyd Joseph Linden, 89, of Platteville died on Tuesday, July 10, 2018. Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 14, 2018 at the Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville. Deacon Bill Bussan will officiate. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery, Platteville, where military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post #42 and VFW Post #5274. Immediately following the service there will be a a lunch and time of fellowship at the Nohr Gallery, Ullsvik Hall, UW-Platteville Campus, to gather informally to swap stories about Lloyd's idiosyncrasies. Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Lloyd J. Linden Memorial Fund. Online condolences can be made at www.melbyfh.com.

Lloyd was born on April 18, 1929 in Platteville to Joseph and Hazel L. (Beach) Linden. His elementary and high school education were received in Platteville and he graduated from PHS in 1947. After attending both colleges in Platteville and a stint in the military, he graduated from UW-Madison with a BS in Sociology. Later he received his MSSW from UW-Madison before further study at the University of Illinois, at Champaign.

On October 8, 1966 Lloyd married Marian L. (Kies) Matson in Elm Grove, Wisconsin, where Marian was teaching in the Elmbrook System. Marian was a widow with one son, Ronald R. Matson. Lloyd and Marian had one daughter, Beth. Ronald died in August 1989. Marian, Beth and Ron were very important components of Lloyd's life. He always felt that he was so very fortunate to have found Marian and to have had a chance to marry her after they had gone in different directions years before.

Lloyd's work career was as varied as his education. As a young man, he drove truck for his father, who was a wholesale distributor. Following his college BS degree he worked for the Grant County Department of Public Welfare for two and a half years and then was awarded a paid stipend to spend two years working on his MSSW. After graduation he worked for the Wisconsin Department of Public Welfare until he was offered the position of Housing Director at what is now UW-Platteville. At UW-Platteville he subsequently held various positions including Dean of Men, Dean of Students and Assistant Chancellor for Student affairs. He enjoyed his work with students and always said that any student with the ability to get into college also had the abilities to graduate. However, two conditions were necessary for this to happen: Motivation and correct choice of academic major. This he felt was a shared responsibility of the students and those working with them. Lloyd retired in 1992 after 30 plus years at UW-Platteville.

In addition to his family and work, Lloyd was proud of his military service. He served in Korea as an Army medic in 1951-1952. He also served in the Wisconsin National Guard and was with the Platteville unit when it was federalized in 1961-1962. He saw military service as a responsibility for the freedoms we enjoy.

Athletics were important to him, both as an observer and as a participant. He played to win but wanted to win by the rules of the game. Talented athletes who didn't make the effort were the ones who bothered him the most. Fast-pitch softball and diving were his personal favorites as a participant. As an observer he enjoyed most sports, but Pioneer Basketball was one that he really got into.

Lloyd is survived by his daughter, Beth (Jeffrey) Metcalf of Milton, WI; two grandchildren, Gabrielle and Brody Metcalf; special friend, Laurene Leuth and her family. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marian, his parents and step-son, Ronald.