Ora F. Lindau

Ora F. “Lindy” Lindau, 95, of Kearney, died Saturday, November 29, 2014 at Mt. Carmel Home Keens Memorial in Kearney. Memorial services will be Saturday, December 6, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Kearney. Rev. Gary Main will officiate and burial will follow at Kearney Cemetery. Military rites at graveside will be provided by the Kearney American Legion Post #52, the Kearney Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #759 and the United States Naval Funeral Honors Team. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to the Ora and Zelma Lindau Foundation at the University of Nebraska Kearney or First United Methodist Church in Kearney. Visit www.hlmkfuneral.com to leave a tribute or message of condolence. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney are in charge of arrangements. Ora was born in Hildreth, NE on May 26, 1919 to Julius and Rosa (Johnson) Lindau. He grew up on a farm north of Hildreth, graduating from Hildreth High School in 1937. He was an outstanding all around athlete. He was chosen to be a pitcher on the United States Baseball Team which sailed for England on August 3, 1938. The team played for six weeks in England getting to play in front of the Queen. Upon his return, he continued his education at the Nebraska State Teachers College and graduated in 1941 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. He began his teaching career at the Culbertson High School in Culbertson, NE, teaching industrial arts and history as well as coaching sports. With the outbreak of WWII, he entered the Navy as a communications officer and traveled with the Seventh Fleet until his discharge as a lieutenant senior grade in 1946; continuing as a US Naval Reserve until 1956. His ship, the USS Tallulah, traveled with the Seventh Fleet and fueled ships in 7 different battles in the Pacific. They received a commendation for fueling 125 ships in 31 days under difficult conditions. While Lindy was in the Navy, he married Zelma Shaffer on July 22, 1943 in San Francisco, CA. Their first son, James, was born in Compton, CA in June of 1944. Upon his return from military service, he continued teaching and coaching at Culbertson for three more years. Their second son, Charles, was born in Kearney in November of 1946. Lindy attended Colorado State College in Greeley, CO earning his masters degree in 1951. He taught in Goodland, KS where their last son, Thomas, was born in November 1952. He then taught at Kearney High School until 1957. He was then hired to teach woodworking at Kearney State Teachers College and became the head of the woodworking area; supervising curriculum development and course changes. He also sponsored the Industrial Arts and the Industrial Management Clubs. He received his Doctorate Degree in education from the University of Nebraska Lincoln in 1968. He retired from Kearney State College in 1981 after teaching there for 25 years. He also belonged to the Nebraska Education Association, Nebraska Industrial Education Association, Graduate Council and Faculty Senate. He was named Outstanding Educator of America in 1973, was a member of KSC President’s Club, University of Nebraska Foundation Chancellors Club and Phi Delta Kappa Alpha Mu. He was a member of the Elks, Kiwanis and the First United Methodist Church in Kearney. He spent his retirement doing woodworking projects for the alumni house and First United Methodist Church as well as many projects for family and friends. During the summers while he was teaching, he had a harvesting crew which traveled to Kansas and northern Nebraska to harvest Wheat. Ora was an excellent instructor and wonderful husband and father. He shared his many woodworking talents with friends, and most of all with his children and grandchildren. A highlight for Lindy was to go to the commissioning of the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman in Norfolk, VA when his oldest grandson, Brock, was a member of the first crew aboard that ship. In his later years he was accompanied by his son Chuck, a Vietnam Veteran, to Washington D.C. on the Freedom Flight for WWII veterans to visit the WWII Memorial. Surviving relatives include his wife of 71 Years, Zelma; Sons, James Lindau and wife Marcia of Axtell, NE, Charles Lindau and wife Karen of Baton Rouge, LA and Thomas Lindau of Kearney, NE; Grandchildren, Brock Lindau and wife Lisa of Blair, NE; Carrie and husband Marc Regier of Hampton, NE, Brandon Lindau and wife Lisa of Garland, NE, Brett Lindau and wife Marissa of McCook, NE, Amberly and husband Charles Nunez of Baton Rouge, LA and Johnny Lindau of Baton Rouge, LA; 10 Great Grandchildren, Zachary, Lucy, Cooper, Hudson, Jagger, Kohltyn, Deklan, Evelyn, Malachi and Lainey; Sister, Fern Warnken of Holdrege, NE; Brothers in law, Harold Schurmann of Hildreth, NE, and Jerry and Pat Curry of Fort Collins,CO. Ora was preceded in death by his Parents; Brother and sister in law, Earl and Freda Lindau; Sister, Violet Schurmann; Brother in law, Fred Warnken; Brother and sister in law, Robert and Evelyn Metz. PDF Printable Version

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Ora F. Lindau

November 29, 2014