DiAnn & Gary Svenson Stories

One month from today would have been Gary & DiAnn's 50th wedding anniversary. Look for a few posts in the weeks to come looking at a few details and photos from that special day, as well as a special surprise celebration for their 25th wedding anniversary in 1997.  Pictured here is their wedding plate it is believed they treated themselves to, created by renowned Decorah artist Laura Hjelle Hoeg. It hung in DiAnn & Gary's living room for decades.  Click on the photos for a closer look. The back of the plate notes that the wedding took place at St. Francis DeSales Church in Ossian, Iowa. Richard Svenson served as best man with Kenneth Lutkenhaus as groomsman.  Betty Busta served as maid of honor with Linda Pankow as bridesmaid. 

  As a few class reunions prepare to gather in town connected to the upcoming Decorah High School Homecoming, we pause to remember a special 40th class reunion for Gary connected to his beloved Class of '57. At that reunion, Gary's classmates surprised and humbled him with this carved plate, believed to be a creation of Paul Knipe. Click on the photos for more detail.  The note from Gary's classmates reads, "For being the best hometown booster the Class of '57 produced - for helping to organize the very first Nordic Fest, for being a permanent fixture on the Winneshiek County Fair Board, for your faithful work with the Decorah Fire Department, for being our good friend, we say 'Thanks, Gooby!'" Gary often cited this as a favorite memory to have received such unexpected yet absolutely appreciated from the classmates he loved. He would then follow up the memory with comments about his wonderful classmates, "the only class special enough to have a hi