Linda "Lin" Mews

Inwood, IA: Linda “Lin” Mews, 77, of Inwood, Iowa, died Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at Fellowship Village of Inwood. A funeral service will be held Tuesday, October 22, at 10:30 AM at Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Inwood with Pastor Sue Sinclair officiating. Burial will follow at Richland Cemetery of Inwood. Visitation with the family present will be held Monday, October 21, from 5:30-7:00 PM at Porter Funeral Home of Inwood.

 Memorials may be directed to Fellowship Village or Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Porter Funeral Home of Inwood has been entrusted with Lin’s funeral arrangements. 

 Linda Sue Lanham, oldest daughter of Don and Louise (Traylor) Lanham, was born June 20, 1947, in Hastings, Nebraska. She grew up in Holdrege, Nebraska and loved to recount the many adventures and mis-adventures she shared there with her two younger brothers and sister. She followed in her father’s footsteps attending Hastings College, where she learned white glove manners and earned a Bachelor of Music degree, majoring in Music Education. She started her first teaching job in Griswold, Iowa before moving to Shelby, Iowa, where she met and fell in love with her fellow teacher, Albert Mews. They were soon married, and she launched into the most treasured job of her life, motherhood.

 Lin and Al moved to Inwood, Iowa in 1972, where she would spend the rest of her life. She initially stayed home to care for her growing family and kept busy with hobbies, jobs, and church. While her children were young, she taught piano lessons from her home on her treasured baby grand piano. Later, she was often seen about town with her Polaroid camera, capturing pictures and writing stories for the West Lyon Herald. She also helped out at the local flower shop–creating countless corsages for Mother’s Day and other special occasions. As her children got older, she returned to her original passion of music education as a music and band teacher at Inwood Christian School. But one of her very favorite jobs was a preschool teacher for Playdays at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, a job she was heartbroken to leave when she finally became unable to join her students on the carpet for story and play time.

 Throughout her life, Lin maintained a deep and abiding faith in Christ. Her faith was open and active. She lived a life of true service and genuine love for her neighbors. It isn’t possible to list all the roles she filled at Bethlehem Lutheran, such as Sunday School teacher, Parish Education Associate, board member, altar guild member, substitute secretary, and even janitor (as well as preschool teacher, of course). In her years at Fellowship Village, she cherished the Circle meetings that were held there so she and others could continue to attend. She had a very deep, personal relationship with Christ, which she nurtured daily through prayer, journaling, singing and praise. In her later years, she was blessed with many caretakers who would read the Bible to her, do devotions, and pray with her every night before bed. Even when she could barely speak, her voice could be heard clearly singing hymns in both melody and harmony.

 It really isn’t possible to capture in words the full magic and meaning of Lin’s life, how she impacted all of those who were lucky enough to know her and be loved by her. She was so fun, silly, and even ornery with her witty humor. She loved being Bob to Al’s Larry. She could talk for hours on the phone with her friends and family, much to Al’s dismay (long distance bills!), making sure never to end a sentence in a preposition. She absolutely loved doing crafts of all sorts, her creativity was always on display. She loved to shop–mostly for craft supplies or gifts for her family and friends. She would say that everything she bought was a hope or dream for someone she loved.

 As Al would often say, Lin was the strongest person we knew. It was a quiet strength through which she persisted to raise her children to be independent, kind, and productive members of society. It was a strength that endured through so many heartbreaks, such as the loss of her brother and her son and the devastating illness that would rob her of her ability to play the piano and with her grandchildren. A strength that blessed those she loved with many years beyond our expectations.

 More than anything, what we carry with us from Lin is her love, which was (and is) endless and given freely to all. Her heart could reach to the moon and back, and if everyone in the world could have just a sliver of her soul, the world would be such a beautiful place. Her children know how absolutely blessed we are to have called her mom, to have sat in her lap, and felt the warmth and safety of her unconditional love. She did everything in her power to never leave us, and even though she is no longer physically here, she will live forever through her legacy of love and grace, through all those whose lives she touched, her children and grandchildren and beyond. The most humble legend of a human that we have known.

 Lin is survived by her husband, Al, her children and their spouses, Liz (Kevin) Lemcke of Black Hawk, SD; Laurie (Adam) Politzer, Waukee, IA; Susan Mews, Chicago, IL; Al (Jayme) Mews, North English, IA; daughter-in-law Jessica (Paul) Mews, Grand Island, NE; Amy Mews, Lincoln, NE; Cindy (Robbie) Harris, Waukee, IA; Lee (Kelsey) Mews, Waukee IA, as well as her grandchildren, Alayna and Christian Lemcke; Abby and Kate Politzer; Clara, Gwen and Ada Mews; Caleb, David and Drew Mews; Camarion Mews; Lydia and Nora Harris; and Eloise, William and Avery Mews. She is also survived by her beloved siblings and siblings-in-law, Nancy & Bob Grogan, North Platte, NE; Tom and Mel Lanham, Holdrege, NE; Cal Uhlig, Ankeny, IA; Diana and Chris Caldwell, Moline, IL; and Bob and Cindy Mews, Waterloo, IA. Lin loved all of her nieces and nephews to the moon and back: Lisa (Eric), Jill (Scott), Andrew (Brandy), Rachel (Ryan), Stephen (Leticia), Kristen, Dave (Katie), Grete, Kassy, Rachel and Anne Marie. Lin leaves behind many dear friends, and a host of caretakers who walked with her through her long and difficult illness and whose love and kindness will never be forgotten.

 Lin was preceded in death by her parents, Don and Louise, her brother Stephen, her gentle and kind son, Paul, her parents-in-law, Albert and Ruth Mews, and her sister-in-law Mary Uhlig. We imagine that she is laughing and singing with them now, as well as with her beloved grandparents, aunts, and uncles who are with her now in heaven. Until we meet again.