Patricia VOOGD

21 OCT 1940 - 15 APR 2003

• BIRTH: 21 OCT 1940, Aplington, Iowa
• DEATH: 15 APR 2003, Portage, Houghton, Michigan

INDEX

[N29482] Patricia Lindeman
nee Voogd
October 21, 1940 - April 15, 2003
Portage, MI

Life Story / Obituary

An escalation of the turmoil in Europe was beginning to take shape with the beginning of Nazi Germany’s relentless bombing campaign directed on the citizens of London, England. Here in the United States, travelers began to see the infamous Burma Shave signs appear along the well-traveled country roads of America and the infancy of television took a giant leap forward with the introduction of an electronic color TV. The entertainment world witnessed Film Director John Ford win an Oscar for his film adaptation of John Steinbeck’s now classic novel entitled “The Grapes of Wrath”. In the Midwest, another event happened that wouldn’t be noticed throughout the world but would still be one of the most important happenings in the lives of Kenneth and Edith Voogd. The birth of their daughter Patricia occurred October 21, 1940 in Aplington, IA.

She grew up in South Bend, IN and attended school there. Pat was considered a very gifted student who seemed to excel very easily in all of her subjects. This was most evident during her high school days when she was allowed to skip a grade and graduate a year early. Her quest for knowledge was enhanced by a love for reading and when she enrolled in WMU she enthusiastically pursued a B.S. Degree in Library Science.

During college Pat met a fellow student named Lynn Lindeman. A romance soon blossomed and eventually they were married. After marrying, Pat and Lynn moved to Guam where Lynn had taken a job teaching. Pat put her new degree to work and took a job as a librarian in an elementary school there. Feeling the urge to further their education, they returned to the United States and Pat earned her Masters Degree at the University of Oklahoma and then returned to Guam before going to Cleveland, OH in 1977.

Around Thanksgiving in 1980, the family came to Kalamazoo and in early 1985 Pat and Lynn moved to New York where they eventually divorced in 1988. Following that, Pat returned to the Kalamazoo area and eventually took a job at Aero-Motive where she worked for over ten years. More recently, she worked at Kalamazoo Radiology until her health forced her to retire.

Over the years, Pat led a very quiet life. She loved to have her family around her as long as she was not the center of attention. Instead, she relished in the accomplishment of her children and felt a great sense of pride as she watched them achieve their hopes and dreams and begin raising families of their own. Pat was most comfortable immersing herself in reading and loved the journey her mind could travel on through literature. She also loved doing crosstitch and made countless pieces for everyone in her family including adding her grandchildren to the crosstitch family tree she had created.

As proud as Pat was of her family, she was equally proud of her accomplishment in overcoming her battle with alcohol addiction 15 years ago. More recently, Pat and her special companion Rick Gerould, a coworker from her days at Aero-Motive, were able to share many special moments with each other as they spent time together traveling and going on scenic drives together. Other travels that Pat embarked on were regular and frequent trips to South Bend, IN to look in on and care for her father after the death of her mother.

Members of her family include her father Kenneth Voogd of South Bend, Indiana, her children and their spouses, Lynne and Robert Wiersema of Dorr, Michigan, William and Lisa Lindeman of Great Falls, Montana, Michelle and Dwayne Dolby of Skandia, Michigan, Kenneth and Assunta Lindeman of Gwinn, Michigan, 11 grandchildren, her sisters, Kay and Don Perry of Niles, Michigan, Kandi and Lenny Gonzales of LaPorte, Indiana, and her brothers Bob and Luann Voogd of South Bend, Indiana, Terry and Carolyn Voogd of Hartford, Michigan, and her very special friend and companion Rick Gerould of Portage, Michigan. Her mother Edith Voogd preceded Pat in death. Pat died Tuesday, April 15, 2003 at Rose Arbor Hospice.

Friends may spend time with her family Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Rupert, Durham, Marshall & Gren Funeral Home Portage Chapel where a Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. Pat will be buried in Portage South Cemetery.

Please share a memory, order flowers, or make a memorial donation to the either Hospice of Southwest Michigan or MADD.