Inga Lind

Inga Lind was born in Chicago on July 22, 1927 and died in her sleep on January 25, 2021 in Batavia Illinois. As the only child of Finnish immigrants, she was proud of her heritage and remained in contact with family in Finland throughout her life.

Inga studied chemistry in college where she met her husband Wesley. Inga and Wes shared a deep love for each other and for God throughout 63 years of marriage. Wes gave Inga a Bible for Christmas two days before they got married in 1947, with this passage marked: “Who so findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the Lord.” Among her many jobs, one of her favorites was working at a candy store. She stayed at home to raise her daughters in Chicago Heights until her youngest was in high school, then took a job teaching pre-school, which she loved. She delighted in coffee klatch with the neighbors, Home Bureau classes, and church activities.

Inga and Wes enjoyed decades of retirement in Sawyer Michigan, where she volunteered at the Harbert Community Church, River Valley School, Bridgman retirement home, and Whitcomb Tower. Her volunteer roles included playing the piano, hosting Jeopardy games, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school, vacation Bible school, women’s ministries, and the outreach committee. That last role was the most important: she wanted to make visitors to the church feel welcome. Many people who later became members said that they returned to the church because of Inga’s friendliness on their first visit. Her husband Wes teased that she could talk for an hour to someone who dialed the wrong number, but she was also a very good listener. One friend called her a “prayer warrior” — she was a kind and supportive friend who offered help to those in need.

When taking care of the house and yard became too much, she moved to the Holmstad. She loved her life there, making new friends and savoring old friends, competing at Scrabble, winning spelling bees and Halloween costume contests, and continuing to volunteer.

Inga and Wes enjoyed traveling to visit their friends and family: she couldn’t believe she was actually able to travel to Europe. Throughout her life she continued to be curious, taking classes in preschool education, learning German, and even into her 90’s taking notes in shorthand in art history, religion, natural history, and American history, refusing her daughters’ pleas to discard them. She faithfully read two newspapers and could be relied on for updates on current events.

Inga was preceded in death by her husband Wesley and by her granddaughter Meg. Inga is survived by her daughters Janice Odom of Owensboro Kentucky, Diane Fenster and her husband Bruce of Green Bay Wisconsin, and Alice Lind and her husband Keith Dublanica of Olympia Washington. She will be missed by her grandchildren Susan Odom, Steven Fenster and his wife Jade Hoyer, and Michael Fenster.