Erlinda Derouin

Erlinda Derouin, age 75 of Menasha, passed away peacefully after struggling for many years with health problems. She was born September 2, 1949 to the late Merechildo and Antonia (Ramirez) Ybarra in Marathon, TX, and was raised near Big Bend National Park.

After graduating high school, Linda enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed in Germany where she trained to be a medic. There she met her husband, Thomas Derouin. Together they moved to Tom's hometown of Menasha where they were married on May 30, 1970. As a Menasha resident, she, along with her husband, Tom, were dedicated, active members of the Fox Valley Vietnam Veterans Association, Chapter 351. They put many hours into volunteering for events and the community. She also worked for many years tending the Racine Street bridge.

In her younger years, Linda led a belly dance troop as a dancer and a teacher. She performed at many community events and parades, and made her own as well as many others' costumes, and danced with her prized sword.

Linda loved theater of all kinds with all her heart. Early on, she invested in Kids On The Block puppets and used them to spread awareness of kids with disabilities through the community. Her biggest passion was costume design and production. She was an avid seamstress throughout life and loved costuming. She also produced, designed, and choreographed productions at all levels. She became heavily involved in community theater and worked for the theater department at UW Fox Valley in costuming design.

Linda, along with her son Tommy and Missy Giordana, started Stage Play Productions, putting on a few productions locally. She put on plays and got many local children involved in small productions at the local libraries. She was happy to work alongside some of the Fox Valley's finest actors. Aside from many theatrical productions, she enjoyed Native American culture: the apparel, the jewelry, and the pow wows. She loved books on herbology, healing, and the spiritual world. She was a collector of many beautiful pieces of turquoise jewelry.

Linda was also an avid crafter throughout her lifetime. She enjoyed beading, leatherwork, painting, and trying her hand at almost anything else. She often painted Native scenes and patriotic pieces.

Linda is survived by her children: Julie (Jason) Dionne; Aimee (Al) John; and Tommy Derouin, Jr.; grandchildren: Sam (Liz) Dionne; Sophia (Tanner Nate) Dionne; Taja (Jyaire Murphy) John; Lailah John; and Xavier John; great-grandchildren: Elizabeth Raye; Sebastian; Jahari; Jerzi; Jakai; and Xomari. She is further survived by her siblings: Amelia (Johnny) Valdez; Hector Ybarra; Liz (Jim) Derouin; Donna (Terry) Sheppard; and Rick (Alba) Ybarra; as well as by many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom in 2011.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, November 8, 2024 at St. Patrick's Parish, 324 Nicolet Blvd., Menasha with military honors to follow. A visitation will be held at church from 9:00 A.M. until the hour of service.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established in Linda's name.