Linda S. Adrian

Linda S. Adrian of Orchard Manor, Lancaster, WI died on October 16, 2026. A private funeral service will be held at a later date.  The Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville, is assisting the family.   Online condolences can be made at www.melbyfh.com.

Linda was born on August 28, 1940, in Manchester, IA to Lorenz and Lena (Henderson) Glass. She graduated from Platteville High School in 1957. After graduation, Linda attended the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing, Madison earning her Registered Nursing Degree. She then continued working at the Methodist Hospital until she started with Grant County.   

In April 1961, Linda married Keith D. Reese in Platteville. They had two children. Keith died on March 11, 1975. In 1980. Linda married Michael L. (Mick) Adrian. They had one child and later divorced.

Linda knew that while she loved hospital work, she had a great interest in Public Health. She began working for Grant County in April of 1966 for Mary Yager, director of the Grant County Nurses Office. Mary convinced her of the importance of serving rural communities via public health programs for those who were far from the “big cities” and where healthcare options were in short supply.

Linda took over as director of the Grant County Health Department after Mary’s retirement hiring many caring and compassionate staff over the years. She was determined to receive her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing and received her BSN. She was quite proud of the RN BSN behind her name!

Those who remember Linda will not forget her determination and the use of her fighter skills to advocate for the residents of Grant County. She often went to-to-toe with politicians at the local, state, and federal levels to ensure the people of Grant County were equally treated by the government. She fought for equally distributed programs and funding along with the correct portion of supplies. Her actions earned her the Wisconsin Public Health Director of the Year award. She implemented programs for her people including Grant County Hospice, the WIC Program, and Rural/Farm Safety Day. When Smallpox was becoming a threat, Linda was the first person to receive the vaccine in Grant County wanting to ensure that it would be safe for her people, so she went first. At one point, the Army approached Linda to enter the Army Reserves as a full colonel and report to Tomah, WI, for permanent assignment to the VA Hospital. She thought about if for a while, then turned it down when she realized she would be leaving the people of Grant County, “her” people. Linda retired on January 9th, 2004.

Survivors include Julie G. (Steve) Durst, Livingston, Boyd K. (Kim) Reese, Ft. Myers, FL, and Toni Kettler. Grandchildren: Michael (Amanda) Loeffelholz, Brandon (Ericka)Loeffelholz, Morgan (Michael) James, Nolan Reese, Hannah Popp, Connor Popp, Clinton Kettler, and Ashley Durst. Great Grandchildren: Camden, Ava, Hendrix, Scarlett, and Rowan. Step-Grandchildren: Maggie, Emersyn, Bostyn, Kirkland, Dawson, Kayla, Timmy, and Carson. Brothers: Larry (Mary) Glass of Summerfield, FL, and Lenny (Sharon) Glass of Platteville. Other survivors include nephews Eric Reese (Shelley), Torrey (Melody), and Heath (Andrea), special friends Royce and Barb McVay, cousins, her Orchard Manor family, and her Grant County Health Department family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Orchard Manor Foundation, 8800 US-61, Lancaster, WI 53813, or Grant County Hospice, 111 S. Jefferson Street, Lancaster, WI 53813, in memory of Linda S. Adrian.