Philip E. "Poppy" Lindal

Philip "Poppy" E. Lindal, 81, a lifelong resident of Yale, passed away Thursday, February 26, 2026, in the comfort of his home.

He was born in Detroit, September 4, 1944, the sixth and final child of Philip and Mae Lindal.

Phil attended Yale High School in 1959and then graduated from Cody High School in Detroit in 1962. He then enlisted in the United States Army in 1962 and proudly served until July 1965. After Military service he worked for the City of Detroit, Peoples Bank of Port Huron and Pontiac Motors. Then in 1969 he started his career at Yale Public Schools as a custodian where he retired from in 2008. He spent the last 25 years of his journey for Yale Public Schools at the Yale Elementary where he was well known as "Mr. Phil". He loved that job and loved those kids. He also worked part-time as a custodian for Yale City Hall and Yale Library for 32 years. For anyone that knew Mr. Phil, he was the creator of "Hootie-Hoo Day" something that no one will ever forget. Mr. Phil will be missed tremendously.

His marriage to Susan Gleason was October 1, 1977, in Yale. They were married 45 years before her passing on October 18, 2022.

Surviving is a son, Tom Gleason; granddaughter, Leah (James) Jordan; grandson, Jacob (Kelsey) Gleason; two great-grandchildren, Addison and Jaedon; sisters, Helen Schoeneman and Phyllis Sapienza.

He was predeceased by sisters, Marilyn Brandon, Dorothy Bennett and a brother, Dick Irwin.

At this time there are no services for Phil as he wished his body has been donated to the medical school at University of Michigan. Arrangements were entrusted to Kaatz Funeral Directors, Yale.

Memorials are suggested to "Wishes of the Family".