DiAnn & Gary Svenson Stories

Twelve years ago today, DiAnn hosted an informal gathering that included tasty Mabe's Pizza and her son-in-law Josh's famous from-scratch colonial cheesecake recipe to celebrate her retirement from nearly two decades of service to Luther College Dining Services. For this event, she consented to let others do the cooking, a rare experience for her.  DiAnn started as a sub, became a 2nd cook and was eventually head cook of her own shift where she and her colleagues worked hard and cared deeply about quality food for their students and their families, summer activity attendees, and many who came to special events like the famous Peace Dining Room brunch.  DiAnn thoroughly enjoyed her colleagues and the many Luther students she got to know over the years through their work study employment as cafeteria workers and students managers.  DiAnn's family thanks everyone for your incredible support during this difficult 2021 year. You are wished all the best for 2022!

This undated Christmas card depicts the Centennial Road home between Ossian and Frankville where DiAnn grew up and lived until she and Gary married in 1972. It is one of two homes she ever lived in. Many wonderful memories are connected to this Ehler family farm where DiAnn was raised by her parents, Felix and Bertha, alongside her siblings - Jeanette, Laverna, Marlene and Ronnie.  To read DiAnn's "Epitome of an Iowa Farm Girl" eulogy that includes wonderful memories from the family farm share at  her June 2021 funeral, click here .  This photo is likely from from the 1950's or 1960's when it was commonplace for air travel companies to take photos of farms and offer them to farm owners for their personal use.  What are your favorite Christmas greeting card memories through the years? Merry Christmas! 

The holidays and the summer fair and festival season are often particularly busy times for live music as pandemic realities currently allow. Gary and DiAnn thoroughly enjoyed the energy and special moments that live music bring. Their service to the Winneshiek County Fair enabled many of their live music experiences.   Among the family mementoes, from these live music magic moments, two are shared today: Ernest Tubb remained a particular lifelong favorite artist of Gary's. Gary appreciated his entertainer persona and stunningly wide vocal range.  Ernest's love of the road and the gift of music was a good match for Gary's natural promotional ability, and he played the Winneshiek County Fair, working with Gary several times. They exchanged Christmas cards for many years. The inscribed photo pictured is believed to be from the late 1960's or early 1970's. It was a sad day for the family when Ernest passed away on DiAnn's 41st birthday.  In 1974, Gary and DiAnn host...

During this 400th anniversary of the US Thanksgiving week, in memory of Gary & DiAnn Svenson, please consider visiting your local treasures this holiday weekend.  What haven't you seen yet, or what haven't you been to for some time that you might now see with new eyes? This photo is from the day after Thanksgiving, 2004. While staying with their daughter, Gary & DiAnn visited the Brucemore estate in Cedar Rapids, which is again nominated as one of the best places in the United States to visit for the holidays by USA Today. Gary & DiAnn dedicated deep passion and energy to promoting all things Decorah and taking in the goodness wherever they visited. What are you doing this holiday weekend to more deeply appreciate whatever community you find yourself in?

25 years ago tonight, wonderful tour guide and friend Lori Abrams captured this special moment as Gary and DiAnn entered the West Wing of the White House, recreating their Washington, DC honeymoon 24 years later, with a special access enabled by their daughter Dawn's incredible internship that fall in the White House gift unit. This trip was DiAnn's first time on a plane. For their honeymoon in October 1972, they drove to Washington and even encountered a tour group including Gary's Decorah Community School teachers on the National Mall.  Gary may have clowned around and did his best "Tricky Dick" pose when standing at the White House Press Room podium. For citizens and lovers of history, any time at the White House is humbling and awe-inspiring. Thank you, Lori for capturing this special moment 25 years ago, that was more than 24 years in the making! 

49 years ago today, DiAnn Ehler married Gary Svenson at DiAnn's home church, St. Francis de Sales in Ossian, Iowa. A first date to the Charley Pride show at the Iowa State Fair netted a lifetime commitment.  Pictured here in the wedding party, (L to R) are Linda (Pankow) Johnson, Gary's cousin, Betty Busta, among DiAnn's dearest friends, DiAnn & Gary, Rich Svenson, Gary's brother and Kenny Lutkenhaus, DiAnn's cousin.  This photo was taken by the incomparable Willis & Norma Wangsness, who perfectly captured hundreds of lifetimes of forever moments in their photography ministry.  This photo was recreated on October 21, 1997 for a surprise celebration for Gary & DiAnn's 25th wedding anniversary. 

This estimated holiday 1950 photo captures (left to right) Gary Svenson, Rich Svenson, Dave Svenson and Carl Svenson. Also in the photo are the boys' uncle Ray Pankow, and (slightly off camera), their father, Sverre Svenson.  Immigrating to the United States as an infant, Sverre instilled in his boys a strong work ethic and a legacy of craftsmanship. Rich, Dave and Carl all developed beautiful, detailed craftsmanship and overall construction skills learned from their father.  The boys incorporated their father's general contracting business as Sverre Svenson and Sons so their dad could retire. Between Sverre and his boys, there is a legacy of more than 70 years of quality homes, cabinets, and special projects in Decorah and beyond.