Obituary: Harriet (Rathbun) Lindwall - Class of 1921

MADISON - Harriet Lindwall, age 99, died on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2004, at Oakwood Village West, Madison. She was born on Oct. 18, 1904, in LaValle, the daughter of William and Clara Rathbun. After graduating from Madison High School in June 1921, she attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned both an undergraduate and master's degree in French. After graduating from college, she spent time furthering her studies of French at the University of Grenoble, Grenoble, France. She used this knowledge to teach high school French in Manitowoc, where she met her future husband, Bob Lindwall, who was a teacher and coach at the same school. On Aug. 1, 1936, they were married at her parent's home in Madison. Harriet was a very active person, helping out with the Cub Scouts, Junior Service League of Manitowoc, First Presbyterian Church, Chapter J PEO sisterhood and various other groups. Harriett was a great cook, an accomplished pianist, and a wonderful mom and wife to her three boys and husband. After Bob's death in 1985, she remained at her home in Manitowoc, until 1992, when she moved to her son, Robert's home, in Chicago, until October 2002, when she moved to Oakwood Village West in Madison. Harriet is survived by her three sons, Jon (Barbara), Robert (Dan) and Larry (Suzanne); sister, Edith Resan; five grandchildren, Todd (Julie), Lisa, Christopher (Jill), Jenny and TJ; and four great-grandchildren, Krista, Colin, Cole and Jewel Lindwall. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her parents; four sisters, Marion, Mildred, Wilma and Norma; brother, William; and may nieces and nephews. She was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and will be missed by many. A celebration of Harriett's life will be held at the chapel at OAKWOOD VILLAGE WEST, 6201 Mineral Point road, Madison, at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Oakwood Lutheran Homes, 6201 Mineral Point Road, Madison, WI 53705. The family wishes to thank the caring people of the second floor at Hebron Oaks for making her last days comfortable. Cress Funeral Service 3610 Speedway Road (608) 238-3434

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on January 5, 2004