Wisconsin Woman and Husband Contracted COVID 19, Quarantined, Feared Med Costs — Wife Died at 54

No matter how beautiful, no matter what a Jean Flansburgh brings to her community, she doesn't count, not to D.C. politicians

Madison, Wisconsin —  Linda "Flansy" Jean Flansburgh of Black Earth, Wisconsin (Dane County), died from COVID 19 on September 29, 2020 on her last day of her two-week quarantine.

Ms. Flansburgh, (July 14, 1966 - September 29, 2020), was a lifelong Wisconsinite.

By all accounts, Flansburgh was beloved, the type of person who brought light to a situation through an easy smile and a quick wit.

But Ms. Flansburgh need not have died, reports A. J. Bayatpour of WKOW-TV (Madison).

Ms. Flansburgh, like the rest of us, feared the massive costs incurred for medical treatment in the American healthcare system that places profit over the lives and health of people.

After contracting COVID 19, she went into quarantine on Sept 15, feared medical costs and delayed medical treatment, then suddenly died on Sept 29.

Reports A. J. Bayatpour of WKOW:

For Kenneth Linde, his niece's [Jean Flansburgh] death is a statement about all of the problems facing the American middle class. Linde bemoaned how his niece needed a second job in order to afford 'a night out to have fish fry' and found that job tending bar, where he worried she may have caught the novel corona virus.

Flansburgh's husband, Joe, also caught the virus. Linde said the couple never went to see a doctor, fearing it would lead to a hospital bill that would overwhelm them.

'For two weeks, they coughed and wheezed and looked at each other, alone, sequestered in quarantine with their three dogs,' Linde said.

Linde said, on their 14th day of quarantine, Joe ran to the store to buy more dog food. When he got back home, Linda was dead.

Linde acknowledges his niece was overweight and that was a pre-existing condition that put her at risk of a severe COVID infection. He said the focus on COVID victims, however, should still be on the experiences that will no longer happen and the memories robbed from friends and families.

'What has been denied is the beauty of a person giving of themselves to other people, putting a smile on their face,' Linde said. 'Doing small things for other people that other people never would've done.'

People like Jean Flansburgh don't matter to those politicians holding up COVID 19 relief in Congress — like Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell.

People like Jean Flansburgh don't count. 

No matter how beautiful, no matter what a Jean Flansburgh brings to her community, this woman does not exist in the minds of the pathologically obtuse (see The Rational National).

A man, Don Freix, in northeastern Wisconsin heard the story on The Rational National pod-cast, and wrote his Wisconsin State Representative, Joel Kitchens in northeastern Wisconsin. 

Mr. Freix is incenced.

So is everyone who hears the story of  Linda "Flansy" Jean Flansburgh of Black Earth, Wisconsin, with the aforementioned exception of Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell.

Freix' letter to Joel Kitchens is reproduced below:

Joel,

You and your gerrymandered legislative majority have not met in session for over 180 days, nor have we seen one press release or publicized conversation with your legislative leadership from you, to address the current pandemic nor the most obvious problem individuals and every scale of business owner in the state is saddled with year after year, eliminating private insurance industry profiteering and establishing a universal health care policy.

Wisconsin woman dies, afraid to seek medical help, fearing unaffordable medical bills.  

This tragedy is on you.

This message isn't just about casting blame, workable ideas exist that yourself and your GOP colleagues refuse to admit, to consider, much less to implement.  Here are a couple suggestions from Professor Richard Wolff (if you are capable of listening through the first 5 minutes) using Switzerland as an example, what they've done to address unemployment, constituent jobs and the industry threats that you get from WMC [Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce], which essentially currently controls your majority caucus and your votes.

I'll consider addressing you as Representative, if or when I see any instance of that behavior from you in office happening.

With wary regards,

Donald Freix    
Fish Creek

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A drive through visitation for Linda "Flansy" Jean Flansburgh will be held from 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm, Friday, October 16, 2020 at Winn Cress Funeral Home, 5785 Hwy Q, Waunakee, WI  53597.  Memorials should be made directly to the family.

Every elected Wisconsin representative should pay respects, and find out what COVID 19 has wrought upon average Americans.