Dean R. Lindstrom

1919 - 2011

GALESBURG - Dean R. Lindstrom, 92, Galesburg, died at 1:52 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, in Galesburg Cottage Hospital.
Dean was born Jan. 8, 1919, in Monmouth, the son of George C. and Gladys (Steele) Lindstrom. He married Anne Stambaugh on Aug. 15, 1942, in Boca Raton, Fla. Anne passed away March 27, 2003.
He is survived by two sons, Dean Richard (and Carol) Lindstrom Jr. and Douglas Robert (and Priscilla) Lindstrom, both of Galesburg; two grandsons, Dean Richard (and Eva) Lindstrom III of Pewaukee, Wis., and Douglas Robert (and Ashley) Lindstrom Jr. of Bettendorf, Iowa; and three granddaughters, Julie Ann Lindstrom of Cleveland, Ohio, Jennifer Lynn Lindstrom of Boston, Mass., and Mary Ellen (and Ryan) Rankin of Kingsville, Texas. One grandson, Scott Matthew Lindstrom is predeceased. Two great-grandsons, Max Richard Lindstrom and Jack George Lindstrom of Pewaukee, Wis., also survive along with a cousin, Barbara Brigham of Wheaton, Ill., and her children, David Johnson of Chicago and Craig Johnson of Williams Bay, Wis.
Dean attended Silas Willard and Hitchcock Schools and graduated from Galesburg High School in 1937. He attended Knox College, graduating in 1941. He received an ROTC commission and was assigned to Boca Raton Field, Fla., Radar School as a special services officer ultimately retiring as a lieutenant colonel. It was there that he married his wife, Anne, the love of his life for 60 years. Dean and Anne also fell in love with south Florida, spending several weeks a year at their honeymoon apartment.
Dean returned to Galesburg in 1946 and the family business, Lindstrom's Radio and Records. With the arrival of television, Lindstrom's grew, occupying four different Main Street locations and becoming one of the largest record stores in downstate Illinois and later adding color TV, home appliances, and HDTV to their product selection.
It was also at this time that Lindstrom's hired a young sales associate named Jack Larson, and that was the start of more than 50 years of Dean and Jack entertaining Galesburg with the Lindstrom's Radio Show every Sunday morning from 9:15 to 11 a.m. on WGIL radio.
Dean was also generous with his time assisting with the initial organization of Little League Baseball, he promoted and emceed the Rotary Travelogue Series, served on the Board of Directors of Home Savings and Loan and Board of Directors of Galesburg Cottage Hospital. He was a member of Galesburg Noon Rotary Club and was the oldest current member of 65 years of service to the Galesburg club, recipient of the Clarendon Van Norman Service Award, the 50 Year Service Award, and one of the first Galesburg Rotarians awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship designation.
Dean was a member of First Presbyterian Church and was the oldest member in standing, where he served as a trustee.
Dean loved tennis, being a member of the first doubles team with Bob Mariner, to represent Galesburg High School at the state tournament, later playing tennis for Knox College and in the early '60s, was runner up in the Knox County Tennis Tournament.
Dean loved cars, often washing and waxing his own, including the white wall tires, because he could do it better than the dealership. Dean also loved sports, especially listening to the late Harry Carey and more recently Pat Hughes broadcast of the Cubs games. One of his last requests was knowing who the new Cubs manager was.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to First Presbyterian Church, Knox College, or Galesburg Rotary Club Foundation. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, in Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel. Funeral will be 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 2, in First Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.