Linda Claire Marchio

They say if you drop a pebble in water, there’s not just a splash, but ripples that start in the center and grow and grow with no telling where they’ll end. Linda Claire Thebert Czajka Marchio was certainly a pebble with a big splash. Linda was born in Saxon, WI on December 17, 1938, to William and Barbara Thebert. She was the 8th of 10 children in a family filled with love and where a strong work ethic and a love of education were fostered. Linda attended Wayne State University and Eastern Michigan University where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. As she taught for 35 years, first home economics and then elementary school, the ripples spread to her many students, and to the teachers she mentored and worked with, touching countless lives. Linda returned to Thompson Elementary, the school from which she retired, in 2018 and was remembered and honored by the current staff, many of whom she influenced through consistent mentorship. The staff and students at Thompson planted a butterfly garden in her name. Linda married Lawrence Czajka in 1958. They were married for 45 years until his death in 2003. Together they raised three children: Kathryn (Eric) Timson, Gail (Ken) VanBrimer, and Gordon (Barbara) Czajka. She was grandma to seven amazing grandchildren: Andrew Timson, Sarah Timson, Amanda Timson (Michael Anderson), Laura Timson, David Roe (Abby Higgins), Emma Czajka, and Caleb Czajka. Linda “GG” also had two great-grandsons to love: Benjamin Timson-Anderson and Marshall Timson-Anderson. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were surrounded by her ripples. As a master gardener, she shared her love of nature and plants. As a teacher she nurtured a love of reading and learning. As a seamstress and quilter, she covered us all in love. Linda did her best to help make the world a better place. She volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, helping to build homes for those in need. She volunteered to help cultivate native plants by tending the community garden in Benzonia. She supported the arts by sewing costumes for countless ballet dancers to wear on stage. Her ripples spreading further and further. In her retirement, Linda lived by the principle of never turning down an offer for new experiences, resulting in her becoming very widely travelled, getting her “new experience for the day “in places such as India, China, North Africa and Europe. After a long, hard-fought battle, Alzheimer’s Disease finally won. Linda passed away on April 1, 2026, surrounded by family and enveloped in love. Linda is survived by her children and their families, her second husband, Anthony Marchio, whom she married in 2012, and her sister Margaret Sahlin. Each of us will carry memories of Linda in our hearts and hear her voice in our heads. Ripples of “Aren’t you glad you’re big enough to do hard things?” will continue to spread across generations, in classrooms, and in the workplace. That splash that started with one amazing pebble will live on and on.

Tributes

Linda Claire Marchio

December 17, 1938 - April 1, 2026