Iowa City artist Sara Lindberg, 83, died Friday, February 22. A celebration of her life will be held at the family home in Iowa City when the weather warms and her garden blooms.
Sara Jane Lindberg was born September 6, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Wendell and Margaret (James) Brown. Sally graduated from Oak Park High School and received her bachelor’s degree from Denison University in Granville, Ohio. In 1951, she married James Beckwith Lindberg in River Forest, Illinois.
After a year in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the couple enjoyed four years in Germany, England and France while Jim served in the Air Force. Returning to the United States they lived for two years in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Sally worked for an interior designer. Sally and Jim then moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where Jim pursued his PhD in geography and their first child, James, Jr. was born. They came to Iowa City in 1960 when Jim was appointed to the faculty in the University of Iowa Department of Geography.
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Soon after the arrival of their second child, Anne, in 1962, the family moved to their Richards Street home. Sally took graduate drawing and painting classes down the hill at the UI School of Art and Art History and began exploring design ideas inspired by the folk art of northern and eastern Europe. Living with her family for extended periods in Australia, New Zealand, Denmark and the Netherlands also informed her art. Her silkscreen prints and cut outs have been exhibited widely. Her work was included in the Iowa Artists Exhibition at the Des Moines Art Center and she had several solo shows at the UI Hospitals and Clinics. She was commissioned to create a permanent installation of colorful prints and interactive wooden sculptures for the Pediatric Radiology Unit at UIHC. Many of her pieces are in the collections of Mercy Hospital and UIHC.
Sally loved the Iowa City community and added her artistic touch to many events at the University of Iowa. She treasured her friendships and connections to people from all walks of life and every generation, from UI presidents to the newest baby down the street. She enjoyed every day, remembered something special about everyone she met, and loved to tell you about it. Recognizable in clogs and colorful scarves, she could be found talking to a friend at the hardware store, digging through the stacks at the UI Art Library, biking with Jim for dinner downtown, or swimming at the City Park pool. Each season brought joy and the chance to join with neighbors for favorite traditions—the picnic on the 4th of July, photos of each child in their costume on Halloween, and music and cookies on Christmas Eve.
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She is survived by her husband, James Lindberg, of Iowa City; her children James Lindberg (Ginny Threefoot) of Denver, Colorado and Anne Lindberg (Derek Porter) of Kansas City, Missouri; brother David (Lin) Brown of Asheville, North Carolina; sister Wendy Brown (Carolyn Dyer) of Iowa City; and grandchildren James, Eleanor and Elizabeth Lindberg of Denver.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be directed to Project Green or Iowa Public Radio.
On-line message may be sent to the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.