Lindell, Sherman Elwood

Sherman Elwood Lindell, 94, of Cedar Rapids, died peacefully Monday, Nov. 1, 2010, at The Meth-Wick Community in Cedar Rapids.

Sherman was born Sept. 1, 1916, in Veblen, S.D., the son of Sven Johan Lindell and Marie (Legreid) Lindell. He was raised and educated in Veblen and graduated from Veblen High School in 1934. Sherman attended St. Olaf College and Iowa State College, where he took courses in the dairy industry. He worked in the Veblen Creamery and in 1938 took a job as a butter maker in Newell, Iowa.

Sherman enlisted in the Navy in 1941 and spent four years in the Navy Medical Corps. Two of those years were spent in navy hospitals in New Zealand and New Hebrides. After his service to his country, Sherman returned to school and earned his undergraduate and masters degrees from the University of South Dakota, where he also completed the first two years of medical school. Sherman completed his medical training at Northwestern University in Chicago.

On Dec. 27, 1952, Sherman married Gladys Jean Jones of Wales, (Red Oak) Iowa. Shortly after, Sherman began his internship in Des Moines. In 1954, they moved to Le Mars, where Sherman was a family practice doctor until 1976, when he became general medical director for Cherokee Mental Health Institute until his retirement in 1986 to Red Oak. He moved to Cedar Rapids in 2004 to be closer to family. Sherman and Jean had two children, David Russell and Christopher James.

Sherman enjoyed serving others, reading, growing flowers, traveling, music, good food, and continuing to stretch his mastery of other languages, especially Swedish and Norwegian. He was a Rotarian for over 40 years. Sherman's faith in Christ Jesus was steadfast and he was a member of a Lutheran Church throughout his life.

Sherman will be deeply missed by family and friends.

Sherman is survived by two sons, David and his wife, Audrey “Aj”, of Minnetonka, Minn., and Christopher and his wife, Jane, of Marion, and their two children, Ben and Sarah; his two brothers, Milton and his wife, Leona, of Mesa, Ariz., and Quentin and his wife, Dorothy, of Waukee; his sister, Janet Wolfe of McLean, Va.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

His parents and his wife, Jean, preceded him in death.

A memorial service for family will be held at Teahen Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids at 4 p.m. Saturday, with Dr. David Hagstrom of St. Mark's Lutheran Church presiding.

The family asks memorials be directed to either the Rotary International Foundation for End Polio Now or to The Meth-Wick Community Center Capital Campaign.

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