Former UW-Richland staff member and county board member has died

RICHLAND CENTER, Wis. (WRCO / WRCE) – A former UW-Richland staff member and county board member died in September.

Linda Gentes, 76 of Richland Center, died unexpectedly on Sept. 6 at home as a result of a rapid infection.

Linda believed in education as a changing opportunity for all people and dedicated much of her life to fostering these opportunities. She was an elementary school teacher in Connecticut and Illinois. In Richland Center, Linda was an outspoken advocate for the University of Wisconsin Richland Campus – acting as Director of Continuing Education from 1986 to 2004. During this time she earned her Master’s degree in Continuing and Vocational Education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1999.

She inspired and organized the “Love of Learning” lectures bringing both culture and practical information to members of the community, from members of the community. While at UW Richland, in the 1990’s, she was also the International Student Program Coordinator, nurturing and mentoring many young adults. Later in her career, for 14 years, Linda took on the role of Coordinator for Engaging Students in the First Year, fostering non-traditional students in their first forays into college.

Linda met her husband, Henk Newenhouse, in 1977 and they shared 48 years together. They lived in Paris for nearly a year before moving to Wisconsin permanently in 1985 to the “Merry Farm of Gotham” in Lone Rock. There Linda and Henk operated one of the first barn wedding venues in the state.

Linda was deeply engaged in her community on every level. For the last ten years she served on the Richland County Board, chairing both the Health and Human Services Board and the UW-Richland Board, stepping down in 2024 to care for Henk. She had faith in the operations of community, of the political process, of civil discourse and of fueling idealism with active pragmatism.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at the Phoenix Center in Richland Center, with memory sharing and music.

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