Mary Ellen Linder Age 75, of Washburn, WI, formerly of Rice Lake, WI, died peacefully with a short and hard battle with cancer on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at her home. She was born on February 3, 1950 in Rice Lake, WI to Rudolph and Ardyce (Novotny) Kodesh.

Mary graduated from Rice Lake High School in 1968 and then was married to Richard “Rick” on September 3, 1969 at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Haugen, WI. Mary worked at Sarona Post Office where she had a rural route, then the Rice Lake Post Office as a clerk.

Mary also worked at the Rice Lake and Shell Lake Airports where she was one of the first people to work on the computer.

Mary volunteered her time at the St. Vincent de Paul soup kitchen/food pantry in Rice Lake after her retirement. Mary was a caregiver for her loved ones - her husband, mother and mother-in-law. In 2023 she moved to be closer to her daughter and grandson in Washburn, WI.

When Mary moved to Washburn, she volunteered her time as the meal site coordinator for the Bayfield County Senior Meal program.

Mary was a great lover of plants, had the best hostas, flowers and had the perfect lawn just like her father, Rudy. She loved helping her husband, Rick, making homemade wood crafts that they sold at different music festivals and fairs and to many people in Arizona and Wisconsin.

Mary loved to adopt shelter dogs and help the dogs that needed a good home. At the very first Haugen Fun Days - they had a wild flower contest and whoever had the nicest bouquet would win and Carrie won 1st place and Mary was so happy.

Mary also enjoyed going to garage sales at 7AM and then to the Senior Citizen Center when the doors opened for Kolaches. She loved being with her daughter, Carrie but Mary’s apple of her eye was her grandson, Samuel. She enjoyed watching him play soccer and watched him grow to be a fine young man.

She is survived by a daughter, Carrie Linder; a grandson, Samuel Cablk; 3 siblings, Sheila Barr, Dan (Carolyn) Kodesh and Anita (Tony) Drost; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard “Rick” Linder; a son-in-law, Jay Cablk; her parents, Rudolph and Ardyce Kodesh; a brother, Robert Kodesh and brother-in-law, Larry Barr.

Funeral Services will be held at 2PM Thursday, July 30, 2026 at Appleyard’s Home for Funerals in Rice Lake, WI, Father Ed Anderson officiating.

Visitation will be held from Noon-2PM Thursday, July 30 at Appleyard’s Home for Funerals in Rice Lake, Wisconsin.

In lieu of flowers, memorials would be appreciated to St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen in Rice Lake, Little Red Barn Dog Rescue in Rice Lake or Bayfield County Senior Meal Program in Washburn, WI.

Last Update: Jul 21, 2026 9:27 am CDT