Lars Hilding Sjodahl

October 4, 1913 - July 11, 2001

Our Dad, Lars Sjodahl passed away on Wednesday, July 11, 2001, due to complications following a fall. For the last three years of his life, he had been dealing with Alzheimer's-like symptoms caused by a series of small strokes. He handled it with as much grace and dignity as he could muster. His sense of humor, concern for others, and even his substantial intelligence, were visible until the end. Dad received his undergraduate degree in Chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and his Graduate degree from the University of Cincinnati. He had successful careers with the US Army Air Corps during World War II; as a chemical engineer with printing companies in Philadelphia, Chicago, Middletown, Ohio, and Cincinnati; and as an engineer and mathematician with General Electric and Mar-Test, both of Cincinnati. His work on materials testing and analysis was published in numerous scientific journals from 1964 to 1979. In 1991, he co-authored "Analysis and Representation of Fatigue Data" with Joe Conway. Dad directed the choir at Grace Episcopal Church in College Hill, and served on the church Vestry. He served as a Boy Scout leader with Troop 21 in Cincinnati. He participated with the Cincinnati Historical Society, conducted genealogy research throughout the country (often the focus of family vacations), and built extensive records of his wives' families, the Kibbeys and the Wolfs. His brother, Sven, passed away in 1970. His first wife (and our Mom) Mary Kibbey Sjodahl, died in 1977. His second wife, Dorothy Wolf Keegan Sjodahl died in 1996. He is survived by his younger sister Greta (married for over fifty years to one of Dad's best friends, Art Fagerlund), his five children, and numerous extended family members. Dad retired from the military in 1959, as a full Colonel, and was buried, with full military honors on Saturday, July 14, 2001, at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati. He is buried next to his parents, Hilding Andreas Sjodahl and Emma Ellerstrom Sjodahl, his brother, Sven and his first wife, Mary. We all miss his counsel, his intelligence, his talent, his caring and his generosity.

Eulogies: Laura Sjodahl Dunn, Barbee Sjodahl, Alice Thompson, Rob Fagerlund, Bill Swathwood, Jeff Willis
Pollbearers: Karl Sjodahl (son), David Thompson (son-in-law), Jeffrey Willis (son-in-law), Charles Dunn (son-in-law), Rob Fagerlund (nephew), Ed Fagerlund (nephew)
Honor Guard Pollbearers: United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

"On behalf of the President of the United States, and a grateful nation,
we offer this flag for the faithful and dedicated service of
Colonel Lars H. Sjodahl. God bless you and this family,
and God bless the United States of America."

Thanks to Bob Willis, Rob Fagerlund and Bonnie Dede for the photographs.
 
 

Five shells from Dad's 21 gun salute.
Presented to Karl at the conclusion of the ceremony.

A certificate sent to members of Dad's family
from the President of the United States