Linda Kay Habel

Linda Kay Habel, 58, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2011 at McKee Medical Center in care of Pathways Hospice due to ALS. Linda was one of the people who could truly call themselves a native of Fort Collins, Colorado. Linda was born on December 21, 1952 to Tony and Eleanor Manley at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins and she graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1971. Linda met Mark Habel in 1969 and they were married on July 1, 1972 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Collins. Linda's joyful personality allowed her to keep a smile on her face all the time, especially when playing and reading with her grandchildren. Linda regarded her family as her most important asset and it was most apparent on the many fishing and camping trips that the family shared. There were many weekends that Linda would be found escaping to the peaceful serenity of her family's cabin in the Laramie River Valley. Linda also showed how proud she was of her family when she attended numerous baseball, softball, and volleyball games, pinewood derby races, and choir and piano recitals to cheer on her children and grandchildren. For many years, Linda put many smiles on the faces of travelers passing through AAA Colorado where she worked for over 10 years. The love of her job is what kept her working until she was physically unable to in April 2010. As a hobby, Linda was very deeply involved in genealogy, both her own line and multiple other family lines. She has been very successful in finding relatives in the countries of Germany, Switzerland, Scotland, and Ireland. Her research even allowed Linda and her sister, Sharon, to visit Northern and Southern Ireland to find the families she researched. Linda was a current member of the Larimer County Genealogical Society and a former member of the Association of Professional Genealogists. Linda was very proud of her Irish and Scottish heritage and showed this by attending the Longs Peak Highland/Scottish Games in Estes Park every year. This is where she became introduced to the clans and joined the Duff, Canibel and Cameron clans. She especially enjoyed listening to the music provided by all the bands. Linda is survived by her husband of 38 years, Mark Habel; son, Barry and wife, Nicole Habel of Pierce; daughter, Julie and husband, Tad Stout of Severance; grandchildren, Wyatt and Rylee Habel, and Gunnar Stout; sister, Sharon Manley and husband, Rick Florea; sister-in-law, Christine Crego; brother-in-law, Robert and wife, Karen Habel; and numerous nieces and nephews, all of Fort Collins. Linda is preceded in death by her parents, Tony and Eleanor Manley; mother-in-law and Father-in-law, Jane and Chuck Habel, and nephew Justin Florea. A celebration of life for Linda will be held at 2:00p.m. on Friday, January 7 at Our Saviour?s Lutheran Church, 2000 South Lemay Avenue, Fort Collins. In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family requests that donations be made in Linda's name to Pathways Hospice, ALS Association or the MDA - ALS Division in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel.