Philip James Lindeman, 87 of Shell Lake died Monday, October 28, 2024, at Glenview Assisted Living Center. Philip was born on June 26, 1937, in Barronett, Wisconsin to Philip and Myra (Jones) Lindeman.

Phil attended a one room schoolhouse in Barronett and on the first day he beat his parents back home. He did go back the next day and eventually graduated from Cumberland High School in 1955. In high school he excelled in football and baseball. He continued his education at the University of Wisconsin River Falls, graduating in 1959 with a degree in Agricultural Education. Phil played football for UWRF Falcons, where he was a captain of their championship team his senior year. Summers before and during college were spent working at Stella Cheese Factory, shocking wheat in the Dakotas and milking cows by hand on the family farm. He was grateful for his short-order breakfast cooking job at the UWRF cafeteria where there were never any complaints about his cooking!

Phil met Helen Lilly of Poskin, Wisconsin, during the summer of 1958 at Stokley Canning Factory in Cumberland and they were married a year later after his college graduation. This past summer they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.

Phil and Helen moved to Dorchester, Wisconsin soon after they wed where Phil taught high school vocational agriculture. In 1960 their first child, Jeffrey, was born. To help ends meet and because of his strong work ethic, he worked at the local creamery, was a Saturday night bouncer and shoveled coal out of rail cars fast! After two years of teaching at Dorchester High School, consolidation paused his career as an ag teacher. Phil then took a position at the Midland Feed Store, that led to a similar position in Fergus Falls that eventually led to a fertilizer and anhydrous ammonia plant manager. This opportunity led to a Midland regional sales representative position and then the same position for Farmland Industries in Mason City, Iowa. Because of his exemplary sales achievements, he earned many trips for Helen and himself.

Their second child, Jennifer, was born in 1963 and the family stayed in Mason City until 1970 when he was hired by the School District of Shell Lake as the vocational agricultural instructor, where strong discipline was a job requirement. This fulfilled his desire and the Lord’s direction to move back home to be closer to family. He always said this was the best move he ever made.

Phil taught at Shell Lake High School for 22 years, retiring in 1992. He was an assistant football coach and the local Future Farmers of America (FFA) Chapter Advisor. He was proud that many of his students went on to pursue careers in agricultural education, including his own son. Philip was a strong supporter of post-secondary career and technical education and believed in the FFA Motto “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live and Living to Serve.”

Coming back home allowed Phil and the family to be involved in South Dewey community activities including church and social events at South Dewey Church. He served on the Clam River Cemetery Board in Dewey Township.

His teaching job kept him active in the community: managing the dairy barn at the Washburn County Junior Fair, working with 4-H, and announcing the Junior Livestock Auction. As part of his teaching contract, he made summer farm visits to his students and also broadcast a short farm report with a thought-for-the-day on the local radio station, WCSW, each morning for over 20 years.

He was an avid outdoorsman enjoying hunting, trapping and fishing in all seasons, but especially ice fishing and fishing with his family in Canada. He enjoyed adventures out west with former students and had many successful mule deer and elk hunts into his 70’s. As a boy growing up his greatest times were hunting or trapping with his dog Blackie.

In 1978 Phil and Helen started Lindy’s Berries, a small commercial raspberry and strawberry farm. Phil loved picking all berries, but especially loved being in the strawberry fields where he continued to pick into his early 80’s. When he was no longer physically able to pick, he enjoyed driving his 4-wheeler out to the fields to ‘supervise’ the hired pickers and give his advice. Even after his daughter, son-in-law and grandsons took over the operation of Lindy’s Berries, he always had a great interest in the berry business.

He was a member of the Spooner Wesleyan Church, was a trustee and served on the church board for several years. He led an Adult Bible Fellowship group (ABF). Phil wasn’t afraid to share his faith and was always looking for a construction or people project. He strived to be the hands and feet of Jesus by serving others his entire life.

Philip was involved in many community, county and regional committees and boards including the Burnett County Board of Supervisors where he served as the board chair. He served on the Impact Seven Board for nearly 20 years and the Northwest Regional Planning Board. He was instrumental in starting the Washburn County Dairy Breakfast, was the committee chair and cooked and served pancakes for several decades. He was a member of the Spooner and Shell Lake FFA Alumni Association.

Phil loved to read Louis L’Amour westerns, enjoyed listening to country music, especially Johnny Cash and had a special appreciation for bluegrass and old-time gospel hymns.

Philip is preceded in death by his parents, Philip and Myra and his two younger brothers, Gene and Gary.

He is survived by his wife, Helen Lindeman, his son Jeffrey and Alison Lindeman and his daughter Jennifer and Scott Kunselman; three grandsons Benjamin (Bethany) Kunselman, Taylor (Hannah S.) Lindeman and Jacob (Amanda) Kunselman and one granddaughter Hannah Lindeman. He was also blessed with eight great-grandchildren: Lilly, Dahlia, Poppy and Bear Lindeman and Olivia, Philip, Theodore and Samuel Kunselman; his brother-in-law Roger (Nancy) Lilly; two sisters-in-law Gloria and Rebecca Lindeman and several nieces.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Thursday evening, November 7, 2024, at Spooner Wesleyan Church in Spooner, WI and for one hour prior to the Funeral Service on Friday. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 8, 2024, at Spooner Wesleyan Church in Spooner with Pastor Ronald Gormong officiating. A luncheon will immediately follow the service. Following the luncheon, interment will be at Clam River Cemetery in Dewey Township, Shell Lake.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to Spooner Wesleyan Church, per Phil’s request.

Last Update: Nov 01, 2024 4:12 pm CDT