Obituary of Linda Jo Petrauskas

Linda Jo Petrauskas (McKinstry) passed away peacefully at her Soquel, California home, surrounded by family and close friends, at the age of 74. Born in Columbia, Missouri, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English from the University of Missouri in 1968. That summer, while touring Europe, she met a fellow traveler in Munich, Germany who became the love of her life and partner for the next 51 years, Al Petrauskas. In 1975, they settled in Soquel to raise their two children: Lisa and Joey. 

Growing up in Columbia; Linda participated in skydiving, swimming, lifeguarding, and dancing. After retirement, Linda became an avid golfer, of which she learned how to play from her son. She was honored to have lifelong friends with whom she golfed and played cards on the Big Island of Hawaii and Orcas Island, Washington; where she lived when not in Soquel. Linda also became an accomplished, self-trained, artist specializing in beautiful stained-glass creations. 

Fond memories will continue to be shared by her loved ones, as she made friends easily. She always had a love of travel: spending a semester of high school in Guadalajara; journeying off to visit and have adventures with her daughter in Alaska, South Carolina, and Georgia; visiting the tight-knit Hickman HS class of 1964; and exploring local and far off places with her husband, family, and close friends. 

Linda is survived by her husband of 51 years, Al of Soquel, Hawaii, and Washington; her daughter, Lisa of Soquel; her grandson, Braxton of Capitola; her daughter-in-law, Christa of Capitola; her brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Martha McKinstry of Houston, Texas; and her three nieces, Kim, Kelly, and Katie. She is preceded in death by her son, Joey and her parents Joe and Frances McKinstry.