Lisa Lindeman

“Sacrificial giving” was the code that Lisa Lindeman lived by. She was a loving wife, kind daughter and devoted mother who went above and beyond in the care of her family, always putting their needs ahead of her own. Lisa spent the time she was given making sure her husband and daughter were happy and well taken care of.

Lisa was chosen for adoption by her parents, Leon and Anita (Manaprateep) Uplinger when she was one month old. Born in Bangkok, Thailand on September 4, 1981, Lisa lived with her grandmother in Thailand until Leon and Anita could bring her home to the U.S. when she was three years old. Leon and Anita both stayed home to care for their precious daughter. Leon retired, but kept his hand in raising cows on their rural property in Cedar Springs and helping in the local government.

Lisa had a wonderful childhood. She took dance lessons and studied piano at the insistence of her mother. Lisa was a natural at teaching, lining up her stuffed animals in front of a black board to make sure they studied their lessons. She was quiet by nature, but could get quite animated when playing with the family pets that she adored.

Leon and Anita made sure Lisa had an appreciation for her culture and heritage, even taking her back to Thailand for three months when she was fifteen. After graduating from Cedar Springs High School in 2000, Lisa enrolled at Grand Rapids Community College. She had an opportunity to attend college in Florida where her parents had moved, but decided instead to go to Western Michigan University.

Attending W.M.U. was the right decision for Lisa, as she soon found out. One fateful day in 2002 Lisa was hanging out with her friends, while a young man named Tony Lindeman was hanging out with his. Somehow phone numbers were exchanged and when Lisa tried to set Tony up with one of her friends he politely refused. Lisa was the one he had his eye on! After their first date at Burdick’s in downtown Kalamazoo, Lisa too, realized this was something special. Lisa and Tony were married at St. Martin of Tours in Vicksburg on June 11,2005. They were thrilled to be able to have their home priest, Father Kevin Covert, come to St. Martin’s of Tours to perform the ceremony, while their own church, St. Catherine’s of Siena was under renovation. Tony was Catholic and Lisa had made the decision to join Tony in his church. Her conversion to Catholicism in 2005 was made all the more special by the loving staff at St. Catherine’s, who helped her learn her new faith and grow spiritually.

In 2004 Lisa and Tony found a house they wanted to make a home. One of the conditions Lisa had was the house need either a security system or dog. So they agreed to find a dog, in which brought their black lab Wavelynn, into the family. Wavelynn was a nice addtion to the family even with Lisa's cat Tibby.

In 2006, Lisa and Tony were blessed with the arrival of their precious daughter, Payton Josephine. Even though Payton was two months early weighing in at 2lbs. 11oz., no baby’s arrival was ever more joyous. There wasn’t anything Lisa wouldn’t do for “Cutie Patutie” (her nickname for Payton.) If Payton made a sound, Lisa was there in a flash, even though she was suffering from the debilitating effects of Lupus. Lisa loved to make Payton laugh, playing with her, teaching her at home all the things babies and toddlers should know. Every night Lisa would read bedtime stories (two at a time) and ask if Payton was ready for “night night.” Then Lisa would cuddle her little Cutie Patutie in her arms rocking her to sleep in their chair by the bed. Lisa would wait and listen for the sound of Payton sleeping. Then and only then did Lisa go to bed herself.

When Lisa could, she enjoyed collecting photos and creating albums to display them. She also enjoyed listening to pop music and loved Thai food, especially curry and rice. She loved rice with everything, even cutting up a bratwurst and putting it in rice! One her favorite things was going to Wrigley Field and having a good Hot Dog.

Lisa was also an excellent homemaker who worked hard to keep her house neat and clean. Her family was very important to her. She loved going to family outings. This also enabled her to take many more photos.

Lisa’s qualities of selflessness, devotion, and kindness were evident throughout her life, first as a loving daughter and later with the tender care of her own daughter and husband. Lisa lived fully in the time she was given and will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Lisa J. Lindeman passed away May 27, 2008. Lisa’s family includes her husband, Tony Lindeman; daughter, Payton Josephine Lindeman; step-siblings, Lois Wilkins of Grand Rapids, Lynden Uplinger of UT; parents Leon and Anita Uplinger of Cedar Springs; father-in-law Keith Lindeman of Manistee, MI; mother-in-law Yvonne Lindeman of Manistee, MI; brothers-in-law Matthew Lindeman of Manistee, MI and Brian Lindeman of Fruitport, MI.

Learn more about Lisa, view her Life Story film, and visit with her family and friends Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, RDMG, Portage Chapel. The family will have a scripture service at the funeral home Friday at 6:30 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Catherine of Siena.

Please visit Lisa’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can read her life story, archive a favorite memory or photo, sign her memory book online before coming to the funeral home or make a memorial donation for a trust for Payton Josephine Lindeman.