Oddvar Gundersen 1917-1991

Not long ago a second cousin of mine in Norway shared this photo of his grandfather with the family. I first met my grand uncle Oddvar, my grandmother's baby brother, when he was in his mid sixties. He was a very nice older man yet I love seeing him, as a younger man, in this photo. A firm, confident stance, head held high, cap at a jaunty angle. In  this photo I  imagine him young, carefree and looking forward to the future, believing anything is possible.

my grand Uncle 

Oddvar Gundersen

b: 19 November 1917 Skien, Telemark, Norway

d: 9 May 1991 Skien, Telemark, Norway

Grandma and her siblings

This photo was taken on the occasion of Grandma's oldest sister Gudrun's 90th birthday. Missing is their brother Finn Gundersen Øvald. Finn, who was born in 1910, died in 1946. Grandma Dagmar believed he died of leukemia. 

**click on photo to enlarge for easier viewing**

Sibling Saturday - The Gundersen brothers

Rolf, Oddvar, Finn and Nils Gundersen - Skien Telemark, Norway

The late 1930's - my great grandfather Nils Gundersen Øvald (far right) poses outside his home in Skien Norway with his three sons. At the time all three were working for him as he captained the boat Union III up and down the Telemarken Canal.

        My Grand Uncles (left to right)
        Rolf Gundersen
        b. 26 September 1912 Skien, Telemark, Norway
        d. 03 January 1997 Skien, Telemark, Norway
        Oddvar Gundersen
        b. 19 November 1917 Skien, Telemark, Norway
        d. 09 May 1991 Skien, Telemark, Norway
        Finn Gundersen Øvald
        b. 27 June 1910 Gjerpen, Telemark, Norway
        d. 21 Dec 1946 Skien, Telemark, Norway

I met both Rolf and Oddvar when I visited Norway in the early 1980's. You could not find two nicer men. They were quite respectful of their older sister, my grandmother Dagmar, and their wives and families were equally as kind and welcoming. Exemplary people.