Linda Frances (Haugh) Verstraete passed into eternal rest on May 28, 2022. At 58 years old, she was a loving wife to her husband, Martin Verstraete, who cherished her deeply. She leaves behind her treasured children- daughter Sarah (Christopher) Simon and their children Lilly and James; daughter Michelle (Joseph) Altenhofen and their children Elaina, Liam, Nora and Henry; and daughter Erin Verstraete (Kevin McLeod).
Linda was born on June 20, 1963 to adoring parents Emmet and Margaret (Peters) Haugh in Kansas City, Missouri. She is survived by her dear siblings Brian (Lucy) Haugh, Kevin (Kelly) Haugh, Jason Haugh, Karen (Andrew) Demel, and Aaron (Kiana) Haugh. Close to her heart were many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her father, Emmet Haugh.
In 1981, Linda graduated from Archbishop O’Hara High School. She went on to receive a degree in English Literature from Rockhurst College where she was a member of both Alpha Phi Omega (National Service Fraternity) and the school newspaper staff. During this time, she worked many happy summers at World’s of Fun amusement park where she met the love of her life, Martin Verstraete. Their deep friendship grew to love, with the exchange of heartfelt letters, dates, and flowers. They share many happy memories and lifelong friends from this period. They married at St. Regis Catholic Church on November 16, 1985. The couple made Kansas City northland their home. They have been members of Holy Family Parish for over 35 years. They enjoyed spending time together as members of the parish choir. Martin and Linda sent their children to St. Charles Borromeo grade school and St. Pius X High School. She loved being a mother and was happiest spending time with her girls going shopping, watching their sporting events, and celebrating their accomplishments. She was so proud of her children. As their children grew and left the house, Martin and Linda enjoyed visiting and spoiling their grandchildren, taking day trips to historical sites around Kansas City, and going for walks in God’s beautiful nature. She loved seeing her siblings and reliving happy memories with them. She cared so deeply for her parents and was grateful for the faith and integrity they instilled in her.
Linda worked as a caring and devoted employee at Shook, Hardy, and Bacon law firm for 37 years. As a Legal Services Manager, she took great pride in her work and the lives of her employees. There she met many coworkers who became great friends and she regarded them as family.
Linda had a light and beauty that simply radiated. Her affection and generosity knew no bounds. She was a helper and was always there when she was needed. She continues to surround her family and friends with her loving presence.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 11, 2022 at Holy Family Catholic Church located at 919 NE 96th St. in Kansas City, Missouri. Prior to the Mass, the Rosary will be prayed at 8:30 a.m. with a visitation from 9:00-10:00 a.m., both in the main church. A funeral luncheon will follow the Mass in the parish hall. Burial will take place at Resurrection North Cemetery at 12:45 p.m. The service will be live streamed at www.HolyFamily.com . In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Saint Charles Borromeo Academy, St. James Catholic School, or Holy Family Music Ministry. Arrangements have been entrusted to Meyers Funeral Chapel in Blue Springs, Missouri. Memories of Linda and words of comfort for her family may be shared at meyersfuneralchapel.com.
Losing a life long love who was spouse, mother, grandmother and friend and so much more is an agony beyond any description. I know the pain is deep and searing. I understand the letting-go. May the memories of the love Linda shared be a comfort of some measure. I am sooo sorry.
We are so heartbroken to hear of Linda’s passing. I knew Linda when we were practically kids , working at Worlds of Fun. She was the sweetest and most thoughtful of us all. I was so looking forward to spending time with Linda and Martin during our retirement years. Our prayers and hugs go out to the family. God bless, and rest easy my friend.
My deepest condolences to Linda’s family and friends. Linda was the most amazing supervisor. Her door was always open and she was always quick to greet with a warm welcome. Her and I often discussed our fathers and their commonalities and she always made herself available to answer questions and listen to concerns. I will miss Linda and will always think of her as a friend and the best supervisor I’ve ever known.
Our deepest condolences to Martin and his family on this devastating loss. Sending loving thoughts of support during this sad time.
As one of her friends wrote this week, Linda was an angel on earth. She was one of the kindest people we ever knew, from high school to last week. Martin found his perfect mate in life in Linda and it made our whole day better when we saw them out and about and at lunch. We will miss her greatly and we grieve with Martin and the whole family. Linda made this world a better place. We pray for your peace and comfort.
I’m so sorry to hear of Linda’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with wonderful Martin and the family. May God bless you all as He holds sweet Linda in His eternal arms.
Linda was a good big sister. She always looked out for her siblings and was always willing to help anyone in the family. We shared a lot of the same interests and a special favorite memory is when we had near front row seats to see RUSH in concert together. Martin, Sarah, Michelle and Erin, you are all in my prayers. Love, Aaron
My heart goes out to all of you who were so loved by Linda.
Linda was a dear friend at St. Bernadette’s, and I was so glad to reunite a few years back, at a girl’s gathering. She had written me a heartfelt note that I will always cherish. I’m so sorry for your loss and will keep you all in my prayers.
For many years I was one of Linda’s coworkers. She was a delight to work with and a wonderful person. I am so sorry to hear of her passing. My condolences to her family as they mourn their tremendous loss.
Martin, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. It seems like yesterday when we all worked at WOF and I still remember when you and Linda met. I met her when she worked in Guest Relations. She was so sweet and so nice. I love that you both had so many happy years and beautiful daughters and grandchildren. I’m glad you will have the support of so many friends and family during this extremely difficult time. I wish I could provide the right words to ease some of your pain, but there aren’t any, so I’ll pray that you find comfort and strength in the many joyful times you’ve shared. Linda definitely is an angel.
To Linda’s entire family, our prayer is that God will comfort and give strength to each of you as you adjust to your great loss. While we did not see Linda often, she made an impact on us because it was easy to see her love for her entire family. We will always remember her beautiful smile and her caring ways. To each of you, we give our love and our continued prayers for comfort.
To all of Linda’s family, I send my deepest condolences. Linda helped guide me in my early days at the firm. A sweeter, kinder person I do not know.
I knew Linda from the day she began at Shook. I loved her like a sister. I will miss her every day but am so blessed to have known her. I loved hearing Linda’s stories of her girls and her grandchildren. Her love of her family was so strong. She was the sweetest, kindest, most loving person I have ever known. My deepest condolences to all her family — and to her loving friends.
To Linda’s family:
I knew Linda and worked with Linda for over 15 years. Linda was a kind, wise, funny, and gentle soul. She loved her family and her friends. She was a mentor and dear friend to me. My heart goes out to you her family. For me, work will never be the same. However, Robert Frost said it best in Nothing Gold Can Stay
Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
Linda was one of the kindest person I knew. When my daughter was in the hospital with cancer Linda was one of her visitors and my daughter loved it. She was right there encouraging and holding my hand. Linda had a light in her and she shared that light with anyone who needed it. She will be missed. To her family and friends I’m so sorry for your loss. You are in my heart and my prayers.
When I began working at Shook in 1998 as a database analyst, things did not go so well and I was “offloaded” to Linda’s supervision. Working with her I soon thrived, she was patient, kind, encouraging and so smart! Linda was a great advocate; when I decided to move to the east coast about one year later Shook offered to transfer me into their DC office and pay for the move and although I couldn’t accept the offer I believe it was Linda advocating behind the scenes which made that offer happen. May you rest in peace beautiful and gentle spirit, thank you for all the kindness you put into the world, thank you for believing in people when their own self-confidence was bruised, thank you for advocating behind the scenes for what was just and right and good and kind. You are gone too soon but your beautiful gentle and kind heart and spirit will never be forgotten.
I am so sorry to hear of Linda’s passing. I knew her as one of my preschool moms- always wearing a smile, always willing to help, always excited to spend time talking about her beautiful daughters. Sending my prayers.
Martin and family,
Linda was such a welcoming and kind person! She was such a supportive parent of her wonderful family. I was so sorry to hear of her passing. Please know of my heartfelt sympathy and prayers!
Linda was a sweet and beautiful person. My deepest condolences to Linda’s family and friends.
I pray that God would comfort you and bring you peace during this very sad and difficult time.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain. Revelation 21:4
A bright shining light in the midst of an oftentimes dim and mundane world, Linda had the propensity to spread happiness, warmth, and joy, wherever she was, whomever she saw . Though some are now called to carry on through these sad and trying times, all of us will, at some point between the tears, smile and feel that familiar old warmth of friendship and of kinship, when we relive and remember all those seemingly infinite moments, moments of quiet warmth, of active friendship, of God’s Love. I cherish those memories and keep them alive.
They say that people won’t remember what you said or what you did, but they will remember how you made them feel. There has never been a better example of this than Linda. A rare person indeed is she who always leaves a smile on your face.
I wish for all of her family members the gift of God’s compassion as they move forward, forever forward, buoyed by so many bits of life that Linda made into eternal living memories. My heart goes out to all of you. Although she may be gone from the earth now, she left us all with so much, so much to be grateful for. That which Linda gave us we will have forever. We are so very thankful for the time we spent with her and Martin.
To the Verstraete Family,
I worked with Linda for ten years at Shook and Linda was a light. She touched so many in the very best way.
And you were her light, she was so proud of each of you and spoke of you often!
Sending you comfort and peace during this difficult time.
I am so sorry for your loss. Linda was a wonderful colleague and a friend. I will remember her fondly for her tremendous talent, her work ethic, her positive attitude, and her helpfulness. May God bless you all.
Sending love and peace to the entire family.
Linda was very patient and kind with helping us in the file room especially with trial prep work. She was a gem and will be missed always.
Blessings.
Dear Martin and family: Words cannot begin to express my feelings of sorrow on hearing of Linda’s death. I cannot imagine the turmoil and pain you must be going through. Linda was my close friend, confidant, lunch buddy and carpool partner. She was the “Good Linda” to my “Bad Linda.” I am sorry I could not be there for the service, but my thoughts and prayers are with you all. Linda will be in my heart and memory for the rest of my life. I pray for peace and comfort to you all.
Karen, we send our most heartfelt and sincerest condolences to you and your beautiful family. May you all be surrounded by God’s love and comfort. May your joyful and precious memories ease the burden of your loss, and provide peace during this difficult time.
God Bless!
My heartfelt thoughts go out to your family during this time of sorrow. My prayers are with you all – God bless.
Martin,
We are so sorry to read of Linda’s passing. Peace be with you and your family.
Martin, we have just learned of Linda’s passing. So very sorry.