Linelda (Lin) Shapka was born in Newcastle, Australia to Ngaire and Keith Clouten. She and her younger sister, Kerrie, grew up together near the campus of Avondale College (now Avondale University) until the family made their big move to Canada in 1980. Lin graduated from Canadian Union College High School (now Parkview Adventist Academy) in 1981. She continued on to study nursing at Canadian Union College (now Burman University), transferring to Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska to complete her degree.
During her college years, Lin married Ron Clutter. Together they set up home in a number of places throughout the United States and Canada – Nebraska, California, New Jersey, Alberta, Utah, Michigan, and Texas. God blessed their home with three children – a daughter, Jenny, and two sons, Jeff and Josh. Lin worked as a nurse in a number of different roles through the years – maternal/newborn care, mental health, and nursing education.
Lin married David Shapka in 2012. Together they enjoyed traveling; their favorite destinations being somewhere close to the ocean. David preceded her in death in 2016. During the last 3 years of life, Lin lived in Edmonton with her daughter, Jenny and family, and more recently in Lacombe with her father, Keith. The joy of Lin’s life was her family. She loved spending time with her children, her granddaughter, Katara, and her extended family.
Throughout her life Lin was a faithful member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In recent years, she funded the building of a trade school for orphans in western Kenya. Lin visited almost 50 countries during her life and although she enjoyed traveling, this world was not her home. Her strong faith, even through tough times, was an inspiration to many.
Memorial donations may be made to the Rapogi Primary School Projects through A Better World Canada.
View Memorial Service: https://livestream.com/chsda/events/9948074
