Elwood Syverson

Elwood C. Syverson, age 87, of Decorah, IA, died Sunday morning, July 29, 2018 at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah.     Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, August 3, 2018 at Springfield Lutheran Church in rural Decorah with Rev. Anita Nuetzman officiating. Burial will be in Springfield Lutheran Cemetery with Full Military Honors.       Visitation will begin at 12:00 p.m. Friday, two hours before the service, at Springfield Lutheran Church. Elwood Clinton Syverson was born on February 8, 1931 in Decorah, Iowa, the son of Arthur and Alice (Estrem) Syverson. He was baptized and confirmed at Springfield Lutheran Church. He graduated from Decorah High School with the Class of 1950, where he played baseball and football. He was an excellent wide receiver and was a big part of the passing combination of quarterback Ham Peterson to Elwood, leading the Decorah Vikings to great success. He was named First Team All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-State by both the Iowa Daily Press Association and Jack North’s All-State teams. Elwood entered the U.S. Army in October 1955 and was honorably discharged in October 1957.    Elwood married LaVonne (Bonnie) Sande on December 31, 1956 in Spring Grove, Minnesota. They were blessed with three children: Michael, Dawn and Randy. He started farming with his father, then he and Bonnie farmed for many years. He also worked at Bolson Foods and Gemini in Decorah. He was a member of Springfield Lutheran Church his whole life. Elwood played baseball for Nordness, Luther Groth, Decorah Cubs and Wapsi Produce. He liked the Atlanta Braves and was a big Decorah Vikings Sports fan. He was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Alice (Estrem) Syverson; two brothers, LaVerne and Ardell Syverson; his brother-in-law, Wayne Perry; and his father and mother-in-law, Selmer and Jeannette Sande. Elwood is survived by his wife Bonnie; three children: Michael (Colleen) Syverson of Mason City, IA, Dawn (Chuck) Groth and Randy (Peggy) Syverson of Decorah; eight grandchildren: Jill Groth, Jacob (Heather) Groth, Jason (Olivia) Groth, Robert (Jessi) Syverson, Sarah Dickerson, Keara Syverson, BreAnna (Ben) Berger and Jorgen Syverson; ten great-grandchildren: Makenna, Brenton and Brynley Syverson, Aubrey Groth, Finnley Berger, Karlie and Kason Dickerson, Mariah, Mallory and Camren Darling; one brother-in-law, Eugene (Jan) Sande of Lyndon Station, Wisconsin; three sisters-in-law, Darlyne Perry of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Franny Syverson and Elaine Syverson of Decorah; and by several nieces and nephews.