Kimberly Verne Chindlund

Kimberly Verne Chindlund was born in Pipestone, Minnesota on February 19, 1940 to Verne George Leonard Chindlund and Bernice Lorraine Chindlund (nee Smith). Kim went to be with the Lord surrounded by family while he squeezed their hands on December 6, 2024.

His family moved to St. Paul and then to Arden Hills where Kim attended Lake Johanna School and Mounds View High School where he volunteered to photograph school events. Any mention of Minnesota lit up his face. He returned many times.

Kim volunteered to join the Army upon high school graduation, hoping to be a cartographer, but the Army gave him another assignment. He was stationed in Washington D.C., Colorado, Korea, and Alabama. He used his talents to photograph events and create signs for events in his spare time.

After starting his college education at the Minneapolis School of Art and Design, he transferred to Kansas City Art Institute from which he graduated with a BFA in Industrial Design.

Married to Janice Faith Chindlund (nee Burkley) in an outdoor ceremony in a forest preserve on May 29, 1971, they camped and canoed on their honeymoon in Wisconsin and settled in Glen Ellyn.

Proud and loving father of Lynn Deborah Chindlund (Erik Huntoon) and Ryan Clark Chindlund, grandfather of Azalea Chindlund and Kamala Chindlund, brother of Karen Louise Voss (Fred), uncle of Alex Isaksen (Sarah) and Benjamin Burkley, and “Dad” to “adopted daughter” Heleine Chantal Kaha.

At Container Corporation of America, he designed point-of-purchase displays and packaging for Hallmark Cards and many others. He was a Junior Achievement leader, helping teenagers make and sell clocks. At Hitchcock Publishing he photographed events and designed book jackets. He started his own venture, Design Source, creating signage, logos, and printed material for many clients. He designed a display for the Benedictine University Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum.

As a Cub Scout Webelos leader, Kim taught the boys how to make functioning catapults and large wooden tool boxes. He designed the graphics for his son’s troop’s camping trailer and publicity posters for their annual pancake breakfasts. Kim raced in the Mid-American Canoe Race multiple times.

Not originally a dog lover, he addressed changing his mind about letting his family adopt a dog via a Toastmaster’s Mental Flexibility program. Yes, he agreed that the family could adopt a dog from the Humane Society. Mixed terrier Banjo was Kim’s pal for 16 years. At one point, he won the Toastmasters Best Humorous Speech in the local region.

Travels took Kim and Jan to Hawaii, Italy, Chautauqua, Gettysburg, and Mount Rushmore among many other places. He especially liked to visit sites with historical significance and museums of all kinds. An avid reader of history and biography, he could apply an historical insight to almost any present-day situation. He usually quoted the person whose biography he was currently reading.

As a member of First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn since 1993, he appreciated the preaching and teaching, the music, and the fellowship.

Photography was a passion, especially photographing the children. He sometimes walked a parade route, hiding behind trees to catch candid shots of them in their marching bands. He liked anything on wheels, fixing cars, making models, and working on HO railroad layouts. Working with wood in his shop occupied many happy hours. Ever inventing, innovating, designing, capturing moments by camera, thinking of new approaches, he illustrated, sketched, and recorded thoughts in hundreds of notebooks. His “Vernacular” is a collection of his unique observations and phrases his family captured. Known for his playful humor, friendliness, willingness to help others, and extra firm handshake, he will be sorely missed by his many friends and extended family near and far.

Donations to First Presbyterian Church Glen Ellyn or The Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson’s Research are appreciated.

Interment at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. Memorial service at First Presbyterian Church Glen Ellyn, 550 N. Main Street, on Saturday January 18, 2025 at 11:00am. To attend funeral service via live streaming, please visit https://www.youtube.com/@FirstPresGlenEllyn/streams beginning at 11:00 am CST.

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