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With warm hearts, they are willing to lend a hand to nearly any organization that needs their help. Though they are modest about their community service efforts, the hours they spend chairing committees and helping out with different organizations suggests they should be considered full-time volunteers.
They came to Albia in 1957, where Hjalmer worked as the business education teacher at Albia High School and Josephine was a substitute teacher. The couple has been married 51 years and their children are all grown.
"We need something to occupy our time," Josephine said. "We like to stay busy."
Indeed they do, with the long list of activities they are in, it's a wonder they even get any rest.
Many of their activities center around youngsters.
"We enjoy being around young people," Hjalmer said. "They have been our lives."
Both are members of the Gideons International - the group which distributes Bibles to college students, hotel rooms and other locations. They were also instrumental in establishing the FirstBaptist Church in Albia in 1960.
Each has played a hand in sponsoring the St. Jude's Bike-A-Thon every year for the past five years. The money goes to the St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.
"We have never visited the children we help, but we would really like to one day," Josephine said.
During the bike-a-thon they are in charge of making as many phone calls they can to obtain pledges from Albia and several other surrounding community members.
"So far we have raised around $5,000 [total]," Hjalmer said.
During the holidays, the couple serves Christmas dinner at the Leisure Lounge in Albia (the senior center) and deliver meals to those who are home-bound.
Their list of activities goes on to include: Master Gardeners, local fishing clubs, foster care review board, care givers council. And Hjalmer is a member of the Older Iowans Legislature.
"It's hard to keep up with our [activities] sometimes," Hjalmer admits. "We have to keep a schedule or we will forget what we have going on when."
Hjalmer and Josephine are both involved in promoting tourism to the Albia/Rathbun Lake area thorough the Iowa State Fair.
The Lindbergs visit local nursing homes at least twice a week to read to the elderly and have discussions about what they read.
"This is a way to keep their minds active," Josephine said. "We read from newspaper, magazines and a variety of sources."
They have earned several awards for their excellent service and citizenship in their home community.
"It makes us feel good knowing we are helping other people," Josephine said.
As for Hjalmer, their motto is simple: "We'd rather burn out then rust out."
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