Former Geneva Mayor Richard Lindholm dies at 91
Next to his family, loved ones say, there's nothing former Mayor Richard Lindholm loved more than the city of Geneva.
His civic involvement continued long after his time in office. His generosity extended throughout the community. And even as illness limited his physical ability in his later years, he always kept a close eye on the town where he graduated high school, raised a family, redeveloped a property and served constituents with pride, said his daughter, Nancy Lindholm.
Richard Lindholm died Friday at age 91. Only a week prior, he had been discussing his vision for a redevelopment project in Geneva - down to every last detail, his daughter said.
"His mind never stopped," Nancy Lindholm said. "He listened to what people wanted (and) he tried to incorporate that into his decisions."
Richard Lindholm served for six years as a city alderman before starting his eight-year tenure as mayor in 1965. He later became the Geneva Township supervisor, community leaders say, and also was involved with the Geneva History Museum and the Fabyan Foundation.
His support for the community never faltered through the years, Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns said. Shortly after the city successfully negotiated a boundary agreement with West Chicago, Lindholm sent Burns a letter congratulating him on the accomplishment.
"I was flattered by the fact that he took the time to write it, and I was honored that someone of his esteem and his reputation would compliment me and my team," Burns said. "He was generous and gracious, and he represented the very best of Geneva in all he did."
Nancy Lindholm said her father always had an eye for business and land-use issues, exemplified by both his public service and his work as an entrepreneur. He is responsible for the transformation of an industrial building into a commercial property at Anderson Boulevard and State Street.
During his time as mayor, the city created the first zoning ordinance and future land use map, which was used until 1995, said Terry Emma, executive director of the history museum.
He also worked with Geneva's then-attorney, Tom McCracken, to implement a land-cash ordinance to charge developers for the utilities extended into their new subdivisions, Emma said. It was the first in Illinois to not be challenged in court.
McCracken became personal friends with Lindholm, whom he called an honest person and mayor.
"(He was a) hardworking, knowledgeable and competent public servant," McCracken said. "All of his mayoral decisions were guided by the fundamental principle of what was in the best interest of the city of Geneva."
Lindholm, a U.S. Army veteran, graduated from Geneva High School in 1945 and later attended Aurora College and the University of Chicago School of Business. He was married to his wife, Elsie, for 70 years and was a "real family man," Nancy Lindholm said.
"He was really proud of all of us, what we did in our educational and career accomplishments," she said. "He was always encouraging us to pursue our dreams."
Lindholm is survived by his wife, Elsie; daughters Deborah Lindholm, Carol Peterson, Janet McGill and Nancy Lindholm; a sister, Charlotte Brigham; four sons-in-law; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and several other relatives and friends.
A funeral service will take place at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, at Malone Funeral Home, 324 E. State St., Geneva. Interment will be held at West Side Cemetery in Geneva.