Linn E. Wiltfong

Linn Edward Wiltfong was born February 5, 1949, to Eleonore (Schrier) and Henry Wiltfong in LaPorte, Indiana. They told his mom to take him home and enjoy him because he would not survive long. He was so small that his first crib was a shoebox that his mom kept next to her bed. The doctors were wrong and Linn spent the next 63 years living his life to the fullest before he was called home to be with his Lord and Savior on June 3, 2012. Early in life, his mom remarried Louis Cannon, who became his true daddy. Through him he would pick up his love for farming and gardening from working hard on the family farm. He left school his Junior year in high school to join the Navy, explore the world and fight for his country in Vietnam. When he came home, he took a job at Memorial Hospital as maintenance man and met his wife Sharon (Nemethy) while she was working as manager at the hospital coffee shop in July of 1971. They were wed January 29, 1972. The love they shared brought forth 3 children; Shar De' Lea (Shari), Linn Edward II (Eddie), both of Saint Joseph and Michele of Shelby, North Carolina. He was a Boy Scout leader for troop 622 of St. Joe for numerous years and a Benton Harbor troop later on. In this position he helped guide many boys in becoming Eagle Scouts including his own son. He was a member of the Masons Western Star #39 lodge of Berrien Springs and also the Shriners ~ becoming the President of the Berrien County Shrine Club in October 2011. He loved taking the kids to the Shriners Hospital in Chicago and was very proud of the Shriners work to help those children. His love for kids (and the long beard he wore) made him the perfect Santa Claus which he played for many years and in the restaurant that he and his wife owned for many years (Sharon's Food in St. Joseph). Every kid that came through the door would get a quarter to buy a bouncy ball out of the machine. He also finished high school later in life and became a graduating member of Lakeshore High Schools class of 1989. Linn was a man of great faith in his Lord God and loved studying the Bible on a daily basis, becoming a member of the Amish church in 2002. He helped the needy through his street ministry "God through Tom" in memory of his brother Tom Cannon. He also aided in the healing of two people. Linn enjoyed gardening, canning, B Ellis Chalmer tractors, attending train shows, volunteering at Lakeland Continuing Health, eating tomatoes and grapes and sneaking people food to his Yorkie dogs. Linn is survived by his wife of 40 years and three children. Also surviving are brothers, Robert Wiltfong of Kentucky, John Wiltfong of Benton Harbor and James Wiltfong of Texas, many nieces, nephews and brothers-in-law and sisters in law. He was preceded in death by biological father Henry Wiltfong, dad and mom Louis and Eleonore Cannon, brothers Tom Cannon, Rick Wiltfong, and George Wiltfong. A visitation will be held at Davidson Chapel of Florin Funeral Service, 249 E. Center Street, Coloma, MI on Thursday, June 7, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with the memorial service immediate following the visitation. Donations may be made to Linn's family or the Shriners Hospital For Children, 2211 North Oak Park Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60707 or go online to Shriners Hospital for Children/Chicago.

Tributes

Linn E. Wiltfong

February 5, 1949 - June 3, 2012