Verlyn Lindemann

Verlyn S. Lindemann, age 88, of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 19, 2023.

Verlyn was born in Cumberland, Wisconsin on July 12, 1935, to William and Luella Lindemann. Shortly after graduating from New Richmond High School, he spent a year as a tank operator in the Army National Guard before enlisting in the United Stated Navy (1955-1959). He was stationed at St. Augustine, Florida; Moffett Naval Air Station in San Francisco, and Hickam Field in Honolulu, Hawaii, and attained the rank of AE2 (Petty Officer 2nd Class). He was attached to the VR-7 and VR-8 squadrons as an Aviation Electrician’s Mate, servicing C-121 Super Constellation aircraft. He also was attached to the Hawaiian Armed Services Police. 

After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he worked for Braniff Airlines in both Minnesota and Texas. After leaving Braniff, he worked for Western Airlines for fourteen years. When he left the airlines in around 1980, he worked for Consolidated Electric and also US Filters building large-scale city and facility water control systems. After his retirement, he served as a volunteer for years at the Carpenter Nature Center and the Food Shelf in St. Paul Park.

Verlyn married the love of his life, Diane, on May 20, 1961. They enjoyed 62 years of marriage and had four children. Family was always his priority, and he was an awesome dad.

Verlyn loved yard work, feeding the birds, helping at church, socializing, traveling, and singing. He sang in church choirs, the Woodbury Chorus, and the Croix Chordsmen Chorus. It was always fun to sing a word or two from a song and watch him start singing it with a big smile on his face. We always had the best yard in Cottage Grove, with straight mowing lines :). Verlyn loved being around people and was always friendly and fun. He loved to tell stories and relished finding new ears - welcoming strangers into a conversation, making them feel like they’d always been friends.

Verlyn is survived by his wife, Diane; four children, Britt (Becky), Todd, Craig (Tomoko), and Jennifer (Jack) Kelley; grandchildren, Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, Robert, Zachary, Jack, Brendan, and Katelyn; great grandchildren, Izaiah, Corey, and Thomas; his sisters, Avalon Stephens, Genevieve (James) Richert, and Sylvia Albers. Verlyn is preceded in death by his mother and father; brother, Elmer (Bernice) and sister, Melva (Lawrence) Buck. He will be sorely missed by all.

Funeral Service 11 AM with visitation beginning at 9:30 AM, Monday, August 28, 2023 at Rose of Sharon Lutheran Church, 6875 Jamaica Ave. S., Cottage Grove, MN 55016. Private interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN.

For those who would like to participate in Verlyn's service via livestream, you can watch the service on Monday, August 28, 2023 at 11:00 AM.  It can be viewed by scrolling to the bottom of this page, and "CLICK PLAY" to begin.  Please leave a message of support on our Tribute Wall to let the family know you were able to watch the service.  If you are having troubles with the Livestream, please accept our apologies, but the service will be available to watch later in the day.