Elaine Blinde

Elaine Marie Blinde was born April 24, 1954, in Auburn, Nebraska to Leo William Blinde and Lucille Emma (Schlange) Blinde. She was baptized and confirmed at Martin Luther Lutheran Church near Johnson, Nebraska.

Elaine attended public school in Johnson, Nebraska and graduated from Johnson-Brock High School in 1972. Elaine received her bachelor’s degree in History, Political Science, and Sociology in the Teachers College at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1975. She taught and coached for five years in the public schools at both Roseland and Geneva, Nebraska. Elaine completed a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska in 1983. She then attended the University of Illinois and received her PhD in the field of Kinesiology in 1987. Dr. Blinde spent the next 23 years as a professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She was an active researcher with a wide array of scholarly publications and professional presentations. Dr. Blinde was promoted to Full Professor at Southern Illinois University in 1999. In 2005, she assumed the Chair position in the Department of Kinesiology and held that position until her retirement in 2010.

Elaine moved to Tucson, Arizona in June of 2013 in pursuit of sunshine and warm weather. She truly loved her move to the Southwest. Yet Elaine continued her allegiance to the University of Nebraska and the Huskers while living in both Illinois and Arizona. The move to the Southwest provided Elaine, an avid photographer, with an opportunity to capture an entirely new venue with her camera.

Elaine passed away on June 19, 2025, in Tucson, Arizona, having reached the age of 71 years, 1 month, and 26 days. She was preceded in death by her mother Lucille in 1994 and her father Leo in 2000.

Elaine is survived by her sister LuAnn and brother-in-law Gary Bray of Johnson, along with the families of their two daughters - Tami and Tyler Hartley (daughters Mia and Kendall) of Waverly, and Kelly and Lee Rasmussen (children Halle, Gage, and Lexi) of Johnson. She is also survived by her brother Loren Blinde of Lincoln and the families of his two sons – Tom and Val Blinde (daughter Ruby and stepdaughter Patience) of Lincoln, and Mark and Megan Blinde (children Adelyn, Brianna, and Cecil) of Kearney. Elaine was a very involved and loving aunt and great aunt. She was so proud of her nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews and received so much joy from these relationships.

In addition to her immediate family, Elaine loved the many friends and colleagues she encountered along her life journey in Nebraska, Illinois, Missouri, and Nebraska. And as an animal lover Elaine loved the companionship of her canine friends, most recently Bernie.

A private family service and burial will be held near Johnson, Nebraska. Memorials may be made to the Department of Kinesiology at Southern Illinois University to facilitate program and student development in a department that Elaine loved. Other memorials may be made to family choice.