FOREST CITY — Linda Lee Haake, 79, of Forest City, died October 21, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Society in Forest City. Through nearly 50 years of ministry alongside her husband, Rev. James “Jim” Haake, Linda helped care for church families, nurtured friendships and made North Iowa her home.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Schott Funeral Home, 505 North Clark St., Forest City. Family and friends will gather at the funeral home from 10 to 11 a.m., before the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Ben Haake, 8296 S. Virginia Ave., Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418.
Born January 28, 1947, in Charleston, West Virginia, Linda was the daughter of Walter and Grace (Clark) Frame. She grew up with her older sister, Diane, and older brother, Gary, and graduated from DuPont High School in Belle, West Virginia.
Her next chapter took her to Trinity Bible College in Oklahoma, where she met Jim. They married April 28, 1973, beginning both a marriage and a shared commitment to ministry.
Their work first brought them to Mason City, where daughter Elizabeth was born in 1977. They later moved to Dallas, Texas, and welcomed son Benjamin in 1979.
In the summer of 1988, the Haakes returned to North Iowa to serve as pastors at Highway Chapel Foursquare Church in Forest City, now Springs of Life Church. The move involved a 17-hour drive from Texas, but their new congregation quickly helped them feel welcome.
Linda captured those first days in an August letter to friends, describing the church members who helped the family settle in. Even with unpacking still underway, she found time that first week to freeze 24 dozen ears of corn — an introduction to the community that would become their lasting home.
Linda brought determination, warmth and a spirited personality to the work she shared with Jim. She contributed wherever she was needed, from bookkeeping and operating the sound system to singing during Sunday worship.
For many years, she also helped manage Cornerstone Christian Book & Gift on North Clark Street in downtown Forest City. The bookstore offered another way to care for neighbors, keeping a prayer list for people who came through its doors seeking support.
Her grandchildren held a special place in her life. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, meals out and time with friends, and she made an effort to sustain relationships across the years. Decades after high school, she continued writing former classmates to catch up and ask about others. Faith and music remained constant companions.
Linda is survived by her husband, Rev. James Haake; son, Ben (Elisa) Haake of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; daughter, Elizabeth (Nathan) Gann of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; and grandchildren, Graham and Colin Haake and Silas and Lucy Gann. She also leaves beloved brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Grace Frame; sister, Diane Harpold; and brother, Gary Frame.
Family and friends may share condolences and read Linda’s obituary through Schott Funeral Homes.
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