Linda Novinger

Linda Ann Novinger died peacefully at home on September 19, 2025, following a long struggle with metastatic breast cancer, which she met with remarkable strength and grace.

Linda was born on September 12, 1943, to Delma and Thomas Novinger in Springer, New Mexico, where she joined her older siblings, Marilyn and Tom. She spent her younger years in Springer and Hutchinson, Kansas, where she graduated from high school. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa, and taught physical education in Kansas, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

Linda moved to Madison, Wisconsin, in 1973, where her occupations included youth services provider at a group home for adolescent girls; professional driver for Purolator, Independent Living, Airborne Express, Madison Metro, and Care Wisconsin (formerly Elder Care of Wisconsin); and massage therapist in a private practice with Linda Alanen, Handled with Care, for nine years. Linda was active in the Madison lesbian community. She was a card-carrying member of Lysistrata. She played city league softball for many years. She was an avid fan of UW-Madison women’s sports, especially basketball and softball. Linda was an early fan of the WNBA; she enjoyed attending some games and watched countless games on TV. She was also an avid tennis fan. She had a gorgeous voice and sang with Womonsong feminist choir and participated in the annual Lesbian Variety Show.

Linda was loved by all who knew her, and she was blessed by a wide circle of friends. She and Deborah Daniel (“DD”) met in Womonsong in 1995. Their friends liked to say Linda and DD were joined at the hip, which was essentially true. They enjoyed life together for almost 30 years, having as much fun as humanly possible, even in the face of Linda’s cancer diagnosis in 2018. Linda and DD were married at the Dane County Courthouse by the honorable Rhonda Lanford on December 9, 2016.

Linda was preceded in death by her entire immediate family. She is survived by niece Jama Schott and nephews Dennis Schott, David Schott (Victoria Schott) and Chris Novinger. She is further survived by her large circle of friends and chosen family in Madison, her wife, Deborah Daniel, their daughter and son-in-law, Nicole and Joel Heiman, granddaughter Grace Heiman (Sam Parker), and grandson Sam Heiman (Sara Polinag).

Linda’s family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at UW Health Carbone Cancer Center, Dr. Kari Wisinski, Dr. Trevor Dennie, Dr. Bethany Anderson, and Dr. Lee Wilke for their excellent care. We are grateful for the steadfast support of Agrace Hospice, especially nurse Claire, CNA Danielle, social worker Lhakipu, and all the nurses and CNAs who visited daily in Linda’s final days. We thank Laurel Redmon (Red Sage Health) for making housecalls to provide acupuncture for Linda. And finally, we would like to thank our friends and family who supported Linda and DD in a multitude of ways over these years, including preparing and delivering delicious food, providing rides to Linda’s many medical appointments, installation of a stair lift, generous financial assistance and house cleaning services, visiting Linda when she could no longer leave home, and offering respite to DD. Our community faithfully uplifted us and we are forever grateful. Donations may be made in Linda’s name to the ACLU or the charity of your choice. Family and friends will be invited to attend a memorial gathering at a later date. The Cremation Society of Madison is assisting the family.