Warren Lindquist of Brooklyn Center, a former principal of Earle Brown Elementary School, led innovative efforts at the school and created a "family atmosphere" among his staff, parents and pupils.
Lindquist, whose school was named a "School of Excellence" under his leadership, died of cancer on Dec. 14 in Brooklyn Center. He was 86.
Doug Rossi of Duluth, a former superintendent of the Brooklyn Center schools, said Lindquist "was one of the most outstanding principals I ever worked with."
Rossi gives Lindquist much credit for the passage of a bond issue that funded the rebuilding of the school facility in the 1970s.
After graduating from North High School in Minneapolis, Lindquist worked as a draftsman and attended the University of Minnesota.
He served in the Navy during World War II in the Pacific theater and received his bachelor's degree in education in 1950 at the University of Minnesota, later earning a master's degree in education at the university.
He began his teaching career at Earle Brown, rising to principal by the mid-1950s.
With children, he was gentle. Kids who were disciplined left the office with a treat. "He didn't rule with fear. He ruled with love," said Rossi.
He held regular fishing and golf outings with his staff, including cooks and janitors.
He would assign classroom teachers to an art or physical education class for a day, so teachers could "walk in another's shoes," said Joe Sacco of Champlin, a retired Earle Brown teacher.
Sacco said Lindquist was a pioneer in multi-day educational field trips. And his fundraising carnivals were so popular with parents and students, they made "amazing" amounts of money for school programs.
"He created a family atmosphere," and few in Brooklyn Center didn't know Lindquist, who played leadership roles in a half-dozen civic groups, such as Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, said Sacco.
Lindquist was a longtime crime prevention volunteer, working with the Brooklyn Center Police Department, and was a regular volunteer at the Minnesota Elementary School Principals Association in St. Paul.
He retired in the 1980s.
For six decades, he held season tickets for Gophers basketball and football games.
Arnie Brown of Brooklyn Park, a friend and retired Robbinsdale elementary school principal, said Lindquist's Gophers basketball seats were above the players' exit, and the players and coaches exchanged hand-slaps with him.
"He always looked forward to that," said Brown.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Cari, of Brooklyn Center; daughters Claudia Olson of Ramsey and Colleen Loth of Elk River; son, Kevin of Brooklyn Park; six grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
Interment will be held at 10 a.m. today at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, 7601 34th Av. S., Minneapolis, followed by services at 1 p.m. at Valley of Peace Lutheran Church, 4735 Bassett Creek Drive, Golden Valley.
Visitation will be held at noon at the church.
