Val Lindbloom, 1937-2008

Valerie J. Lindbloom, 71, (Roseville , Ill.), a retired physical education assistant professor, coach and athletic trainer at Western, died Feb. 15 at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Ill.

Born Jan. 28, 1937 in Galva, IL, Lindbloom earned her bachelor's degree in physical education at Western Illinois in 1959. She taught physical education at Polo (Ill.) Community High School and Polo Junior High School from 1959-1964, then returned to WIU in 1964 as an instructor in the women's physical education department while working toward her master's degree in physical education, which she earned in 1965.

Lindbloom was appointed to Western's women's physical education faculty in 1965, teaching body mechanics and activity classes. In her early tenure she coached field hockey and basketball for two years each. Lindbloom also coached the women's softball team for 10 years, including the 1972 and 1973 teams, which placed third and fourth, respectively, in the College World Series. She was named the U.S. Coach of the Year in 1972.

Lindbloom's teaching specialties included adapted physical education, prevention of athletic injury, body mechanics and athletic training. She was named the Women's Physical Education Department Teacher of the Year in 1972, 1973, 1979 and 1986.

A State of Illinois registered athletic trainer, Lindbloom also served as an athletic trainer for 13 years. She received the Service in Athletic Training award from Cramer Company (1980). Lindbloom was the USA co-head trainer at the World Goal Ball Championships for the blind in Indianapolis, IN (1992), and the USA head trainer at the Canadian National Championship for the Disabled in Ontario (1983) and the International Games for the Disabled in New York (1984).

She taught “Coaching Techniques Workshops for the Mentally Retarded Athlete” for Western's special education department from 1980-1986; and she worked for the McDonough County Special Olympics from 1978-1988. Lindbloom filled many campus, high school and organization's requests to present information about preventing sports injuries, how to exercise correctly and working with the exceptional student.

Lindbloom retired in 1996, following 31 years of service to Western.

Memorial contributions may be made to the McDonough County Special Olympics or the athletic training curriculum program at Western Illinois University.

A guestbook is available to sign at www.dodsworthfh.com.

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