In Memory of Sister Linus Coyle
January 16, 1925 – February 19, 2026
Sister Mary Linus Coyle, PBVM, 101, daughter of John Vincent and Sarah (Uebersetzig), was born Eileen Olive Coyle on January 16, 1925, in Cross Plains, Wisconsin. She entered religious life in 1938 as an aspirant in the School Sisters of St. Francis in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and professed her perpetual vows on June 21, 1949, later transferring to the Sisters of the Presentation on February 3, 1973 and giving perpetual vows within this community on December 8, 1974.
She earned a Bachelor of Science from Alverno College in Milwaukee and a Master of Arts from Clarke College (now Clarke University), Dubuque, Iowa. Sister Linus served as a teacher, principal and computer lab coordinator in Catholic schools in Chicago, Illinois; Keyesville, Lancaster and Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Yazoo City, Mississippi; Moravia, Costa Rica; Charles City, Dubuque, Mason City, and Epworth, all in Iowa; and St. Paul, Minnesota. She also served in many summer catechetical programs throughout her 54 years of teaching. She retired to Mount Loretto in 2001 where she volunteered in the computer lab for many years.
Sister Linus lived her long life with a quiet, faithful “yes” to God. A lifelong learner, she embraced every mission entrusted to her with trust and a willingness to begin again. Gifted with a poet’s heart, she marked birthdays and feast days with handwritten verses that made others feel seen and cherished. She found deep peace in prayer, in the beauty of nature and in the simple joys of community life. Grateful to the end, she carried in her heart a deep love for her family, her sisters and the God who guided her every step.
Sister Linus celebrated her 85th Jubilee in 2025. “Gratitude, praise and humility still echo in my heart as I look back on over 85 years of service to God,” shares Sister Linus. “Each chapter has been shaped by grace, and I am deeply thankful for the blessings of family, friends and my Presentation community, who have shown Christ’s love in countless ways. I continue to entrust all to the hearts of Jesus and Mary.”
Surviving are her sister, Ann Rebholz, nieces, nephews, and the Sisters of the Presentation with whom she shared her life for 53 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, Joan (Robert) Ellestad, Joyce (Ralph) Meyer, Agatha (James) Grimm, Mary (Paul) Schuchardt, Sally (Ronald) Kalscheur and Beth Coyle, her brothers, Linus and Denis and her brother-in-law Roger Rebholz.
Memorials may be made to the Sisters of the Presentation, 2360 Carter Road, Dubuque, Iowa, 52001, or online at www.dbqpbvms.org.
