Linda Marie Meese

Linda Marie Meese November 5, 1946 – January 23, 2026 Linda Meese, 79, was freed from dementia on January 23, 2026. Although her long struggle with this disease was heartbreaking, it does not define her or her life. Linda was intelligent, funny, hardworking, unequivocally dedicated to her family and had a contagious laugh that uplifted everyone in her sphere. Linda was preceded in death by her parents Mark Mann and Marie Gmoser, her stepfather Louis Gmoser, her brother-in-law, Robert "Bob" Colegrove and her nephew Joshua Gmoser. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Russell “Roger” Meese. During their marriage they traveled, hosted terrific parties, spent time with their family and many friends, and truly embraced the life they built together. Linda is survived by her son, Jeff Meese and partner Stacey Walker, their children, Oliver, Lorelei, Allison, Madison and Addilyn. Her daughter Amy Sovereign and husband Benji, their children Ethan, Eli and Ariel. Her siblings Michael and Joyce Gmoser, Dan and Regina Robinson, Louie and Anne Gmoser, and Kenny and Kathy Gmoser. Her siblings-in-law Marcia "Marci" Colegrove, Mark Meese, Linda Fox, and Andrew Meese. Her nieces and nephews Jason and Jennifer Seib and their children Noah and Conner Seib, Derek Robinson, Leslie Robinson, Jake and Brittany Gmoser and their children Kassidy, Blake, Aubrey and Layla Gmoser, Lilly Gmoser, Jim and Kris Lauer, Meg McCormick and her children Aidan, Ean, and Aren McCormick. Linda was born in Wyandotte, Michigan. She attended Cabrini High School in Allen Park and was such an outstanding student that she was offered a full academic scholarship to Holy Family College in Philadelphia. Once the possibility of going to college was suggested to her, she embraced it and left home to pursue her bachelor’s degree. She later achieved a master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University. Linda’s strong work ethic started early. When she was young, she worked at the family laundromat and helped her mom with her younger siblings. Her family was (and is) very close-knit so one can’t quite imagine how her mom felt when she and her sister Regina roared away on the backs of motorcycles, one of which was driven by Linda’s future husband Roger. The family home was filled with love, laughter and a healthy dose of mischief. After college, Linda began her career as a schoolteacher and later worked as a school principal. She took her responsibility to the students extremely seriously. She truly loved those kids, and it was her mission not only to educate but also to teach compassion and personal responsibility. She would occasionally bump into a former student, and they would always come up to say hello and tell her they remembered her fondly. A testament to her widespread and meaningful impact on the young people she taught. Linda enjoyed reading, playing golf, traveling and spending time with her friends and family. She was inherently playful and thought it was hilarious to queue up her favorite Bob Seger song to play at full volume the minute Jeff and Amy walked in the door from school, upon which time she would sing, dance and laugh hysterically at her own shenanigans. She was an enthusiastic mom and grandma, attending all of the kids and grandkids’ games, concerts and recitals. She was quick with a hug, an encouraging word and always, a good laugh. She and Roger traveled throughout their entire marriage, enjoying trips together and with family and with friends, all of which are documented by an impressive treasure trove of photos and photo books. She was a staunch believer in doing the right thing, and not because someone may notice otherwise. She instilled this in her children, who in turn have taught their children the same. Although this was foundational, Linda also wasn’t afraid to have fun. And with her family and friends, she shared millions of laughs, leaving all of us with happy memories of spending time with her. Linda was a woman of faith and of strength. Her dedication to her family was absolute. Her beautiful soul is now at peace, and her warm nature will be missed by her friends and family forever. In lieu of flowers, Linda’s family welcomes donations to the Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan, a local charity that provides services for children. To share a memory, please use the Share a Memory tab on this web page.

Linda Marie Meese

November 5, 1946 - January 23, 2026