Ruth Annette Lindstrom

Annette Lindstrom, 95, of Rockford, was born in Escanaba, Michigan, the daughter of Victor and Edith (Edholm) Anderson.   She graduated from Augustana College (Rock Island) in 1944 with a B.A. degree in music and art education.  She was a soprano in the Augustana Choir, where she met her future husband, Leonard.  She taught music and art in Rock Island and Moline schools and gave private art and music lessons.    Annette married Leonard Lindstrom in 1945, upon his return from the Navy.  They had two children, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.   

Annette was a charter member of St. James Lutheran Church in Rock Island, where she was organist and choir director during the church’s formative years.   She was a member of Playcrafters Community Theatre Group for more than 50 years, serving as board member, actor, director, producer and also backstage.  She and Len appeared in lead roles in many plays, most notably “Harvey”, “On Golden Pond”, “The Four Poster”, “The Gin Game”, “Foxfire” and “You Can’t Take it With You”.  Annette was a member of the former Augustana Arts Advisory Board, the Rock Island Arts Guild, the Quad City Arts Council and was former president of the Augustana Endowment Society.  

Survivors include her son, Robert (Sandy) Lindstrom (Rockford, IL); daughter, Linda "Lindy" (Al) Wilson (Cross Plains, WI); grandchildren, Julie (Adam) Alsup (Blue Springs, MO), Amy (Matt) Bowden (New Lenox, IL), Jeffrey Lindstrom (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada), Annie Wilson (Aaron) Ross (Longmont, CO), Heidi Wilson (Erik) Gillard (Plainfield, VT), Erika Wilson (Madison, WI); great-grandchildren, Garrett and Brooke Alsup, Nadia and Mira Bowden, Juniper Ross; brothers, Kenton Anderson (Marshall, MI), Richard Anderson (Escanaba, MI).

Special thanks to management and staff of The Atrium and Heartland Hospice of Rockford.

Memorial service is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, June 2, 2018 at 1:00 PM at the Madison Christian Community, 7118 Old Sauk Road, Madison, WI 53717.    In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the following:

Playcrafters Theatre, PO Box 926, Moline, IL 61266-0926

The Leonard & Annette Lindstrom Scholarship for the Fine and Performing Arts, Augustana College Advancement Office, 639 38th Street, Rock Island, IL 61201

St. James Lutheran Church, 3145 31st Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201 or Madison Christian Community, 7118 Old Sauk Road, Madison, WI 53717

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