Gary Svenson

Gary Svenson, age 66, of Decorah, Iowa died suddenly at his home on Tuesday, July 19, 2005. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 22, 2005 at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church with Rev. Gary Krapfl officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to the Gary Svenson Memorial Fund. Friends may call from 3:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday morning until 10:30 a.m. at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah. There will be a Veteran’s Memorial Service at 5:00 p.m. and a scripture service at 7:00 p.m. Thursday. Gary Svenson lived 60 of his 66 years anchored at 704 Winneshiek Avenue yet reaching out tremendously into his Decorah, his Iowa and his USA prior to his sudden passing July 19, 2005. Gary Dean Svenson was born on July 15, 1939 the proud son of a Norwegian immigrant, Sverre and Marie (Weflen) Svenson in Decorah, Iowa. Gary attended and graduated from Decorah High School in 1957. He worked for Ode’s Skelly Station, Pepsi and owned his own service station, where Weis Buick is located. Gary was drafted in the US Army and served from 1961-63. He married DiAnn Ehler on Oct. 21, 1972 at St. Francis – de Sales Catholic Church in Ossian. Gary was employed by the City of Decorah for thirty-three years as a fire driver and was a volunteer firefighter. In 1990, he retired from the Winneshiek Co. Fair as Secretary, serving for thirty years. Gary also was one of the founders of the Nordic Fest, organized in 1967 and remaining active in many capacities for 39 years. Gary was awarded the Jaycee International Senator Award in 1975; He received the Iowa Fairman of the Year Award in 1982; and was honored with the Nordic Fest Flag in 1996; He was inducted into the Iowa Fair Assn. Hall of Fame in 1996 and served as Co-Grand Marshall of the Nordic Fest in 2002; Gary was also very active in the Jaycees and the Easter Seals for many years. He also served as treasurer of the Decorah Fire Dept. and Sverre Svenson & Sons Construction Co. for more than 30 years. He was a previous member of the First Lutheran Church in Decorah and now a member of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church. Gary’s survivors include his loving wife, DiAnn (Ehler) Svenson, Decorah, IA. One daughter: Dawn (Josh) Svenson Holland, Cedar Rapids, IA and one son: Darin Svenson, Decorah, IA. Three brothers: Carl (Victoria) Svenson, Dave (Donna) Svenson and Rich (Linda) Svenson, all of Decorah, IA. Two sisters-in-law: Jeannette Ihde, Clermont, IA and LaVerna Nowak, Albert Lea, MN. Two brothers-in-law: Ronald (Lorraine) Ehler, Ossian, IA and Irenus Baumler, Waukon, IA and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends. Gary was preceded in death by his parents; Sverre and Marie Svenson; one brother in infancy; his father and mother-in-law: Felix and Bertha Ehler; two sisters-in-law: Sally Svenson and Marlene Baumler and one brother-in-law: LeRoy Ihde.