Leslie M. Lindbloom

Leslie Lindbloom was born on November 30th 1957 to parents Kathleen and Thomas Lindbloom. She was the second child of four: Kim, Jeff and Gail. From an early age she showed herself to be a creative, talented artist. She loved to craft and to design. But she also had a deep love of people and the world. She studied geology at Western Michigan University and upon finding out that probably meant working on an oil rig, a horrified Leslie joined the peace corps so she could instead focus her efforts on helping the people of rural Swaziland. Africa had a huge impact on her life. She met the future father of her children, another volunteer named John. She embraced a rustic style of living and a commitment to nature that she would never lose. She picked up dozens of little Zulu phrases she would use in normal conversation (“Asambeni” or “Let’s go” was a favorite). She was never fully comfortable with any technology. She proudly would recount that she didn't bother to own a TV for the entire 1980s. She preferred a good book, a canoe trip down the Au Sable river, a walk down the block with one of her beloved corgis, or a bike ride through an interesting neighborhood. Her sons Kazia arrived in 1984 and Lee in 1987. She filled their childhoods with music, fun and color. To support them she worked as a horticulturist at Alexander Nursery and then Lochmoor country club, a place she would shape for the next nearly thirty years. Her holiday decorations were like something out of a fairy tale, her gardens were explosions of color in what was before she arrived a stark and barren landscape. She brought so much life and color everywhere she went. In 2020 she became a grandmother or “Gogo” (another Zulu borrowing) to Elly, Lee’s daughter. She embraced the role to the highest degree, obsessing about the latest upload of each photo and video. She immediately began scheming how she would make the move to Washington DC to be closer to her beloved grandchild. She accomplished the move in 2022 in time to meet her second grandchild Ozzy. She proceeded to dote on and spoil both of them. She very quickly became Ozzy and Elly’s favorite person. Ellys shout of “GOGO!” when she surprised them with visits and Ozzy running to give her hugs brought her immense joy these last few years. Ever since she was first diagnosed in 2008 the prognosis had never been especially great. Yet Leslie always beat the doctor’s expectations. She beat the timelines again and again for 16 years. She held on to life fiercely because she knew what she meant to all of us. Daughter, sister, mother, gogo, friend. She had so much love to give. We love you, Leslie. Memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, March 30, 2024 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. at Wasik Funeral Home, Inc., 49150 Schoenherr Rd (n. of 22 Mile Rd.) Shelby Twp. In lieu of flowers donations would be appreciated to One Tree Planted in honor of Leslie. https://onetreeplanted.org/

Leslie M. Lindbloom

November 30, 1957 - March 26, 2024