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John Lindberg

May 29, 1934 ~ April 1, 2011
April 5, 2011

John Lindberg died at home in Naples, Idaho April 1, 2011. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 9, 2011, at the Becker Auditorium.

John was born on May 29, 1934, in Cortland, New York, to Philip and Marion Lindberg.

He was raised in the small town of Homer, New York, and always wished to retire to the comfort and friendliness of small town living. John graduated from Homer High School where he was active in soccer, basketball and track, but soccer became his main love.

John went on to Brockport State College in pursuit of a teaching degree. There his true talent for soccer excelled and he was selected as an All American Soccer player in 1952, 1953,1954. John
graduated from Brockport with both a Bachelor of Science and Masters Degree in Education Administration.

He first taught at Eden, New York, followed by a return to Brockport College, where John taught college students professional teaching skills with young children.

John’s teaching career of 36 years took him from New York to Nevada and finally California, where he taught for 26 years. There he met and married a fellow teacher, Shirley Smith, who has been his life-long loving partner for over forty years.

Those many years in education brought him recognition in both athletic and service awards:

Homer Central School Athletic Hall of Fame
All American Soccer Player 1952, 1953, 1954
Eden Hall of Fame Award for Distinguished Service
New York State University for Outstanding Service
Dedication and Contribution for Establishing Soccer as New High
School Sport 1992
Bonners Ferry Board of Education Service Award
Idaho Intermountain League Coach of the Year
Idaho High School Athletic League Distinguished Service Award

Upon retiring to Bonners Ferry, John learned soccer was not included as a high school sport. True to his community spirit, he immediately went into action and got permission to voluntarily start a free youth club team at the fairgrounds. As it grew, finding and personally purchasing a suitable field to accommodate the growth led to more participants.

 Finally soccer was accepted as a school sport. John was instrumental in creating a high school soccer field and this has led to a positive Bonners Ferry soccer reputation over the years. John’s soccer philosophy “First and foremost sportsmanship followed closely by respect for the sport itself and help for fellow team mates."

John is survived by his wife Shirley, daughter and son-in-law Laurie and Michael Naumann, brother Bill Lindberg, daughter- in-law Jan Soloy, five grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials are suggested to the Boundary County Education Foundation, Bonners Ferry High School Soccer Teams or Pancreatic Cancer Research.

Family and friends are invited to sign John’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.