Retired Covenant pastor James Lindgren passed away on August 15, 2025, in Turlock, California. He was 81.
James Oliver Lindgren was born in Norway, Michigan, to parents Oliver and Evelyn Lindgren on November 16, 1943. As an infant, he was baptized at First Covenant Church of Iron Mountain, Michigan. He attended elementary and high school in Iron Mountain, then eventually enrolled at North Park College in Chicago, Illinois, earning a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1965. He earned his master’s of divinity from North Park Theological Seminary in 1970 and his doctor of ministry degree in church administration from McCormick Seminary in Chicago in 1980. He was ordained by the Evangelical Covenant Church in 1971.
From a previous marriage, Jim was blessed with two children, Peter and Kerstin. He married Angelina Padilla on February 16, 1991, and they formed a blended family along with her children, Karen, Katie, and Colleen. Jim and Angie were united in marriage for 34 years.
Jim served in a variety of ministry roles in the Covenant. He was youth pastor at the Covenant church in Hinsdale, Illinois, and then served as pastor of Bethany Covenant Church in Dubois, Pennsylvania; the Covenant church in Donaldson, Indiana; and Faith Community Covenant Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He served as the chaplain and director for the New England Seafarers Mission in Boston, Massachusetts, then for the Seafarers Ministry of the Golden Gate in Oakland, California. He retired in 2012 after decades of faithful service.
Jim will be remembered for his compassion, humor, love of family, and joy in connecting with people from all over the world.
He is survived by his wife, Angie; children Karen Mistretta (Aaron), Peter Lindgren, Kerstin Lindgren, Katie Corrigan (Montti), and Colleen Dorval (Justin); his sister Joanne Budd (John); and nine grandchildren: Issac, Orion, Gabriel, Amalia, Elin, Matthew, Patrick, Alyssa, and Samantha, to whom he was affectionately known as FarFar.
A memorial service will be held December 20, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. in Berg Hall at Covenant Living of Turlock.
Peace be to his memory.
