Craig (“The Sarge”) Lindeke

From left to right: Craig, Debbie Stein, Ben Thompson ’01, Elizabeth Lindeke, Jeff and Adam Stein, Karen and John Ackroff, outside Agard House at our 35th Reunion in 2006.		Jeff Stein, Bill Lindeke ’01, and Craig, June 2006.		Elizabeth and Craig with Rich Casden, June 2006.

From the Willwerscheid Funeral Home: Craig E. Lindeke (June 9, 1946 – August 5, 2020), of St. Paul.

Died Wednesday, August 5, 2020 of heart failure. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Elizabeth and five children, Benjamin Thompson (Ginny Ann Glasgow), William Lindeke (Emily Parks), Anne Thompson (Max Berger), Glen Lindeke (Jin Wen Guo), and Lisa Daniels (Seth Daniels). He was the beloved Opa and
Yaya to his four grandchildren Edgar Berger-Thompson, Eleanore Berger-Thompson, Estelle Berger-Thompson and Lotus Lindeke. Craig was a graduate of Wayland Academy, Williams College and Vanderbilt University Law School. He worked in the Minnesota Revisor’s Office drafting legislation for over thirty years. His wit, generosity and larger than life personality will be sorely missed.

Craig and Elizabeth loved to travel; Elizabeth has shared some pictures with us:

	Craig in Croatia		Craig in Macedonia

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Craig in Montenegro		Craig in Sarajevo		Craig in Salt Lake City

John Nelson has shared his thoughts:

Although we lived 500 miles apart, Craig and I remained in touch and visited one another several times over the years. We attended fireworks conventions in Fargo, ND and Mason City, Iowa and short-track auto races at Elko, MN, Cedar Lake, WI and Knoxville, IA. I visited the Lindekes at their home in St. Paul and their summer cottage in Wisconsin. We regularly exchanged Christmas cards and postcards of our travels. I always enjoyed getting together with Craig, Elizabeth, and their extended family. He will be missed.

The Ramsey County, Minnesota, Bar Association held a memorial service on May 7, 2021, for members who passed away in the previous year.  Craig’s memorial was read by his stepson, Ben Thompson ’01, and was written by Bill Lindeke ’01 and his wife Emily Parks, Lisa Lindeke Daniels ’06 and her husband Seth Daniels ’06, and Ben and his partner Ginny Ann Glasgow.

Craig Lindeke was born on June 13, 1946 in St. Paul, Minnesota.  A loving husband, father, and grandfather, he passed away from heart failure on August 5, 2020 in St. Paul at the age of 74. He explored the world and pursued his far-reaching interests with curiosity and a gregarious personality.

Craig spent his childhood in Minnesota, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Germany.  This early exposure to a variety of cultures and lifestyles inspired a lifelong love of travel.  After graduating from Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, Craig attended Williams College in the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts.  His college studies were interrupted by four years of Army service during the Vietnam War.  After his tour of duty, he was shipped directly back to Williams with only his uniforms for clothing.  He was known as “Sarge” by his college friends ever after.

After graduating from Williams, Craig pursued a law degree at Vanderbilt University in Nashville and joined Spear and Hill in New York City when he graduated. He enjoyed telling of his adventures on Wall Street, especially his role in the firm’s representation of the Sultan of Oman. When the firm dissolved Craig returned to St. Paul and began working in the Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. 

Accomplished and outgoing, Craig was well known at the Capitol. He formed close connections with the many legislators and staff with whom he worked drafting and reviewing legislation and rules. Craig’s easy way of communicating, listening skills and command of language helped him excel in his role of translating ideas into law.  He particularly enjoyed serving as the legislative attorney for the Ways and Means Committee.  Craig enjoyed mentoring newer attorneys and connecting personally with all of the support staff in the office until his retirement in 2011.  

Craig was dedicated to community service and the betterment of others. Through the years, he sponsored refugees resettling in Minnesota, served on the boards of Neighborhood House and the Lex-Ham Community Council, and delivered countless meals with Meals on Wheels. While mindful of his need to remain politically neutral during his career as a bipartisan public servant, he proudly displayed the United Nations flag as a symbol of world peace.  

Craig connected easily with people who crossed his path, especially his neighbors and their dogs, for whom he always had a spare treat.  Generous with his time, Craig hosted dozens of international students and staff from France and Japan in his home.  He loved taking his family and visitors on road trips visiting baseball stadiums, national parks, historical sites, and friends and family across the country.  He also loved international travel. Craig was an avid collector of everything from books, records, stamps, presidential campaign buttons, and car brochures to the Star Wars figurines displayed prominently in his office.  

Craig will be remembered by his colleagues and friends for his legal acumen, his charisma, sense of humor, and kindness.  He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, children Ben, Bill, Anne, Glen, and Lisa and their families.  He is greatly missed.