LINN COUSINS

There were 21 of us. Children of Peter and Maude’s 5 sons. We had get-togethers at Grandpa and Grandma’s house and often at Ivan and Ann’s home. A bunch of blond heads, having that Scandinavian look, playing and running, all the same except for Dennis who took after his mom’s side and had dark hair.

Stanley: Dennis

Rolland: Myron, Diane, Marcia, Randy

Ellis: Alan, Doug, Michelle, Kurt, Joel, Timothy

Ivan: Dean, Donnie, Linda, David, Dirk, Daniel

Merlyn: Debra, Brett, Karie, Kathy

We are now 18 strong. Cousins who were born in the late 40’s through 1970. Spread out from one side of the country to another. We’ve lost touch, but somehow many of us have found each other through a phone call, a funeral, even this blog.

Donald Wayne Linn, age 64, was the most recent cousin to pass. He and I had reconnected through this blog. He often left a short comment on the posts he enjoyed. He and I would email about our shared love for the Cubs. But I dropped off on posting regularly, and I didn’t hear from Donny. When I started to post more regularly this year, it is then that I learned of his passing from a heart attack.

I’m so sad that I didn’t know Donny as an adult with shared memories of a childhood with the very loud Linns. I read an article not long ago in which the author wrote of hearing about a childhood friend who had passed and being surprised how hard it hit him. They had been distanced for over 20 years. And then he realized, as I have, that people from our past share memories that no one else has. And as each passes, a part of that history, a history we can share with someone, is now gone.

I want to acknowledge my other two cousins who have passed. Kurt Girard Linn, age 44, passed in 2008 in Colorado. On the front of his monument is a photo of him with a guitar. On the back it says, "Music Man. Mountain Man." I wish I’d known Kurt as an adult, listened to his music and asked about his love of the mountains.

Ivan Dean Linn, Jr., (known as Dean) passed at age 18 in a motorcycle accident. He and his girlfriend were riding, and he only had one helmet. He gave it to her. When the accident occurred, his helmet saved his girlfriend, but Dean died. His death was the first one I knew of someone around my age. I was in college in Utah at the time and wasn’t able to come back for the service. But I remember the time and I remember Dean from so many family get-togethers.

I’m so glad that many of us cousins have connected in some way. We share memories of parents, grandparents, and Iowa in a way that no one else can. I don’t know how or if we could find a way to get everyone together, but I’m open to ideas. Back in Iowa? All of you come out to sunny California?

Our numbers have gone from 21 to 18; I hope that we stay 18 strong until we can meet.

 

 

 A bunch of Linn cousins with Aunt Ann.