Leo Joseph Lins was born on October 11, 1918, at Troy Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin, the son of Leo Joseph Lins and Eva M. Schwartz Lins. He married Loretta M. Witzko at St. Barnabas Parish, Mazomanie, Wisconsin, on June 13, 1942.
Dr. Lins received his Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the Platteville State Teachers College in 1939. He received his Master of Philosophy degree in School Administration in 1944 and his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Teacher Education and Statistics in 1946 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
"Joe" held a variety of positions at the University of Wisconsin including: Assistant to the Dean, School of Education; Associate Director, Testing and Evaluation Services; Project Administrator, UW-Sears Roebuck Foundation Individually Guided Education Teacher Education Project; Associate Faculty, R&D Center for Cognitive Learning; Coordinator of Institutional Studies; Acting Registrar and Director of Admissions; Director of Student Personnel Statistics and Studies; and Director of Statistics and Machine Records. He left a legacy in education that included his pioneer work in Institutional Studies (a field in which he was recognized nationally as a "father" of the discipline and as an author of what was the widely considered for many decades to be the "bible" of Institutional Research); helping to integrate the state's universities and colleges into one University of Wisconsin system; establishing reciprocity between Wisconsin and its neighboring states to enable students to be schooled in out-of-state programs not offered in their state, at in-state tuition rates; and educating future educators on the benefits of instructing students on an individually guided basis.
His family considers one of his greatest legacies to be his continual demonstration of how to transcend obstacles to live a full, rewarding, and successful life. One of his favorite sayings was, "The impossible just takes longer." Born with a brachial plexus injury to his left arm, he showed how to persevere and achieve great things in life such that no disability was apparent. His deep devotion to his faith was evident in the way he used that faith to endure hardships such as the loss of loved ones, loss of eyesight, and loss of mobility and strength. Never complaining, he took each challenge in stride and embraced the richness of life no matter the circumstance. He maintained his incredible intellect, wisdom, sense of humor, and humble nature to the last days of his life. He was a devoted father, grandfather, and great-grandfather to his six surviving children. He especially enjoyed reading, woodworking, and travel, having visited all 50 states of these United States, many European Countries, and did extensive travel in the Holy Land of Israel. He received a citation from Pope John Paul II for his contributions to Catholic education. Dr. L. Joseph Lins, age 94, Professor Emeritus, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison, died on Sunday, January 27, 2013 at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg, WI. Funeral services were held on February 4, 2013, at St. Ann's Catholic Church with Msgr. Gerard Healy officiating. [Excerpts of obituary from Cress Funeral Service, Stoughton, Wisconsin]