After a nine-month battle with cancer, Linda Ann (Miner) Buckus, 64, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, July 29, 2020. She passed at her home in Champaign.
Linda was born in Galesburg on November 9, 1955, the fourth of eight children of Harris “Red” and Irene Miner. Her parents preceded her in death. Linda is survived by her husband of 37 years, Raymond; two children, Joseph Buckus and Stefanie Cubsen; her brothers, Gene, Bill, Gale, and Tim; her sisters, Christine, Ronna, and Janice; and a granddaughter and numerous nieces and nephews and cousins.
After living in Massachusetts for many years, Linda and her family moved to Champaign in the fall of 2000, where Linda and Raymond have lived since.
Linda had a passion for teaching and caring for children, as well as adults with mental and physical disabilities. When she found out about Special Touch Ministry, Inc., which is geared toward adults with mental and physical disabilities, she quickly volunteered, and for many years she spent time befriending and teaching those with special needs about the love of Christ on a level they could best comprehend. Until her illness made it impossible, Linda would spend a week each year as a caregiver at a Special Touch getaway retreat.
To honor her life, her Abingdon area family will have a memorial service at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 31, 2020, at the Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Abingdon Chapel. Rev. Russ Witkowski will officiate. Due to the guidelines associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, limited seating associated with social distancing will be available and the use of facemasks is required.
In lieu of flowers, we request that people donate to the vulva cancer research at Northwestern University, which is the type of cancer Linda was first diagnosed with. The website is foundation.nm.org/donate-by-condition/donate-to-vulvar-cancer-research/.