DiAnn & Gary Svenson Stories

As DiAnn’s birthday approaches, the next few posts will revisit pages from a large special scrapbook assembled and contributed to by many wonderful people for her 60th birthday in 2003.  As Luther College students return to campus this fall, the timing seems right to start with a post that reflects on the friendships and hard work of Luther Dining Services staff members over the years. This birthday message came from Marjorie Schwinefus and reads:  “I met DiAnn when she started working at Luther College. She started as a sub and became my 2nd cook. We became good friends as well as good coworkers. We shared our cooking for the menus as well as the many parties that we did. DiAnn is a real hard worker as well as a good friend. I want to wish DiAnn a happy 60th birthday . I have enjoyed meeting her daughter Dawn and Darin her son. Whom I enjoyed working at Luther. I have also met her husband Gary. Real nice man. DiAnn and I have went to showers, weddings, funerals and etc. together. I’ve

  Labor Day 2021 would have been DiAnn’s birthday. The next few posts will focus on her birthday, including sharing some fun memories assembled for DiAnn’s milestone 60th birthday. As she faced health challenges, a positive, extremely active group of Facebook volunteers collectively known as “From the Heart” showered DiAnn with uplifting and encouraging cards. A couple members even adopted her and ensured she had cheerful mail at least once a month. Many showed tremendous creativity like the one pictured that just arrived to commemorate our first birthday without her. From the Heart volunteer Carol who created this card brings joy and thoughtfulness to life’s challenges as DiAnn often did with her cards and letters. Thank you, Carol and everyone at From the Heart for the joy you spread! Would you like to celebrate DiAnn’s memory by sending your own cards to seniors who could use some cheer? Are you on Facebook? From The Heart could always use more volunteers. Visit here to learn more o

17 years ago this week, DiAnn started treatment for late stage squamous cell carcinoma, or tongue cancer with a treasure hunt. The image above was printed for her on the first day of her intense radiation and chemo treatment that lasted well into the fall that year. Each day of treatment included a clue like the one above that when followed, and resulted in discovery of a stuffed animal. Gary did the hiding and queued up the clues for her. It was silly, fun, and just the distraction needed from the incredible challenge that is cancer treatment for far too many people. How do you turn life’s stumbling blocks into stepping stones?

For many years, the Winneshiek County Fair in Decorah took place the first week in August each year. The Echoes of the Past note pictured above from 50 years ago appears courtesy of the Driftless Journal and the Echoes of the Past Column Roz Weis produces. Thank you, Roz! Just before taking DiAnn on their first date to the Iowa State Fair, Gary Svenson enjoyed serving as what was then called secretary of the Winneshiek County Fair in 1971, with reported highlights that included chicken chasing and beverage drinking challenges.  Did you join chicken chasing or beverage drinking challenges at the 1971 Winneshiek County Fair? Laminated bookmark of this special memory is courtesy of Hills Bank .

  50 years ago this month, Gary Svenson and DiAnn Ehler went on their first date. It was a big first date! They attended the concert of Charley Pride, DiAnn’s favorite artist, at the Iowa State Fair. Beloved friends Irv and Kathy Schau joined them.  Because Gary has incredible friends via his work with fairs and loved to plan life experiences in a big way, they even met Charley Pride during that first date. Charley Pride continued to have positive impact in Gary & DiAnn’s lives, writing them a beautiful personal letter for their 25th wedding anniversary in 1997. A little over 48 years later in October 2019, DiAnn relived a bit of that super-special first date in attending the Charley Pride concert in Dubuque with front row center seats and the chance to again meet the country crooner she so enjoyed. During the show, she sang along to every word.  Charley’s smooth voice was unfortunately silenced due to complications of COVID-19 in December 2020. Maybe as DiAnn slept away, she woke

  On the evening of June 3, 2021 - two months ago yesterday, DiAnn and one of her dearest friends conversed on the phone about the May 28 announcement of USPS first class postage going up in August (this month).  This friend offered to pick DiAnn up some stamps and bring them by the morning of June 4. DiAnn said she’d leave the door open for her friend. They looked forward to checking in with each other. Little did anyone know that this friend’s abiding thoughtfulness would lead to the discover of DiAnn having slept away, news that came two months ago today. Thanks to this friend checking in with DiAnn, very little time passed between her passing and the discovery of the hard news. Many of our loved ones struggle with life and continuing pandemic realities. Risk is escalating as the Delta variant spreads,  How might we check in with each other more and honor both what DiAnn’s friend did for her and DiAnn herself? Ideas include: Make a phone call to someone you care about, but haven’t s

Gary & DiAnn spent the 4th of July holiday 2004 as special guests of the  https://welcomeamerica.com/  Festival in Philadelphia.  Their trip benefitted the International Association of Festivals and Events Foundation, a fitting tribute to their significant volunteer work with the Winneshiek County Fair and Nordic Fest. The image above is from their Christmas card that year. Highlights of trip included riding in the 4th of July parade with Ben Franklin and other historical heroes, visiting the site where Gary’s infant father and grandparents first entered the United States as immigrants from Norway in 1902, and attending the historic Medal of Freedom ceremony held at Independence Hall. In typical Gary & DiAnn social fashion, many a laugh was shared among friends and family when they shared the story of accidentally joining a paid tour of Philadelphia and being invited to simply stay when they realized their oversight.