Howard “Howie” W. Lindman, 83, of Elmhurst, IL, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 31st, surrounded by his loving family in his home after a battle with cancer, and just in time to join his beloved wife Pattie for a New Year’s Eve celebration dancing to “Lady in Red”.
As we write this homage to our beloved, we are at a loss for words. How can we possibly find the words that are powerful or meaningful enough to describe this father, grandfather, and friend who we were so lucky to call our own? We aren’t sure that they exist, but we will do our best to give you a glimpse into the person Howard Lindman was.
Howie was born on June 8th, 1936, in Melrose Park to Walter and Ethel Lindman. He attended Proviso Township high school where he met and fell head over heels for his Pattie. They married in 1956 and enjoyed 59 years together sharing a commitment that is rare in this world; constructed by love, integrity, and kindness. After Her passing in 2015 Howie was left with a vacancy in his heart. He honored Pattie’s memory every single day.
After high school Howie went to work for his Uncle Pete becoming the third generation of Swedish carpenters. (Later his son Jeff would become the fourth and continues the business today.) Howie and Pat moved to Broadview to raise their three children Lori, Jeff and Gary, and lived two doors away from his sister Carol and her family. In 1970 they moved to Elmhurst and soon after Carol and her clan would follow. After losing their spouses Howie and Carol shared blueberry muffins and coffee every Thursday morning and most other mornings Howie could be found having coffee and solving world problems with “the boys” at Ron’s gas station until it sold and in later years at Panera.
Throughout the years Howie never advertised his carpentry business. It was simply word of mouth from customer to customer about this master craftsman that always kept him busy and growing. Howie built love and care into hundreds of homes in the Chicagoland area. He specialized in finish work, crown molding and fine cabinetry. He also built lifelong friendships with many of his customers and was a father figure to the men who worked for him. The most prized project he ever built was his cabin on Two Sisters Lake in Northern Wisconsin which they named Serenity. Howie counted the days until the snow melted and he could open the cabin again welcoming family and friends and making so many wonderful memories, especially for the grandchildren he adored. Captain Howie loved to take pontoon boat rides, fish and sit around the bonfire for hours on end. The cabin was a continual work in progress, built on a solid foundation of love and the most beautiful legacy a man could leave. Consider yourself lucky if you have one of his handcrafted birdhouses.
Howie taught us all compassion through his words and actions, and that there is always room in your heart to love another person. He went out of his way to make people feel loved and thought of. He became an extension to so many other people’s families. He was a father and mentor to dozens of people which we were happy to share him with. Howie leaves behind countless people who will miss him and always lovingly remember him.
Howie is predeceased by his parents, Walter and Ethel Lindman; his wife, Pattie Lindman; and brother-in-law, Bruce Most. He is survived by his children, Lori (Doug) Johnson, Jeff Lindman and Gary Lindman; his grandchildren, Jenna (Patrick Lopardo) Lindman, Scott Copas and Danielle (Justin) Johnston; his sister Carol (Bruce) Most; and many nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Visitation Thursday, 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a funeral service at 6:00 p.m. at Gibbons Funeral Home, 134 South York Road (½ mile North of Saint Charles Road), Elmhurst. Interment Private. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy the family would appreciate support with a memorial in Howie’s name to Ignite Hope.