David's Obituary
David A. Linder, 88, of West Lafayette, passed away at 3:48 a.m., Monday, March 31, 2025 at IU Health Arnett Hospital in Lafayette.
David was born August 28, 1936 in Lafayette, Indiana to the late John E. and Magdalene M. (Zink) Linder. He was a 1954 graduate of Battle Ground High School.
On October 25, 1958, David married the love of his life, Patricia Stair at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Lafayette. Together, the couple would share a life of love and happiness throughout their 66 years of marriage.
Mr. Linder served in the United States Army from November of 1959 until his honorable discharge on February 21, 1962. While in the Army, he was an Ordinance Supply Specialist stationed out of Fort Riley, Kansas. David was a proud member of American Legion Post #492 in West Lafayette, where he served on the funeral honors detail veterans, many of whom he called friends.
David worked for Alcoa in Lafayette for 33 years, many of them as supervisor in aluminum extrusion, retiring when he was 52 years old. After his retirement, he helped his wife, Pat, repair sewing machines at her family-owned business.
In retirement, the couple enjoyed wintering in Brownsville, Texas for 33 years. Fish fries with friends and neighbors were a weekly occurrence.
David always wanted to play cards, especially Euchre. He enjoyed taking his old Ford 1963 truck to car shows and participating in the Tippecanoe County Steam & Power events with his Farm All tractor. A people person, David enjoyed pitch-in parties down by the river on Pretty Prairie Road, often making his famous vegetable soup. He was never shy to give an opinion and was a fun-loving prankster to his closest of friends. Family reunions at the river, huge holiday feasts and preparing pork cracklings in the driveway are all wonderful memories of time spent with the people most important to him. Above all, he was a caring and devoted husband and father.
Surviving with his wife, Pat is a daughter, Judi Linder Lange (husband: Rodger) of Battle Ground; a daughter-in-law, Audra Linder of Lafayette and a grandson, David J. Linder of Battle Ground. Also surviving are 40 special nieces and nephews and their families.
Preceding him in death with his parents is a son, Jon D. Linder and his ten siblings, Catherine Mackey, Elsie Halsema, Estella Frawner, Marcella Linder, Vincent Linder, John Linder Jr., Norbert Linder, Josephine DeMarr and Theresa Hammond.
Friends may call from 1 p.m. until the time of funeral mass at 2 p.m., Friday, April 4, 2025, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church (1916 Meharry St. Lafayette, IN). Interment to follow in St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery of Lafayette.
