Ervin "Red" Sveen

Published in the Los Angeles Daily News on 4/15/2008.

"RED" ERVIN SVEEN Red was born the youngest of eleven on May 26, 1922 in Thompson, Iowa to Bert and Dena Sveen. He died on April 13, 2008 at West Hills Hospital in California. He leaves to mourn him his wife, Clara, of 58 years; two daughters, Melinda Gourlay and Dena Sveen both of Woodland Hills; two granddaughters, Emily Gourlay of Maui, Hawaii and Heidi Rangchi of Reno, Nevada; one sister, Beatrice Carter of Overland Park, Kansas; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, nine brothers and sisters, and an infant son, Jerry. Red graduated from High School in Forest City, Iowa and moved to California in 1941. He worked for Douglas Aircraft until he entered the service in November 1942. He served three years in the South Pacific with the 5th Army Air Force, seeing action in the Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea and the Philippines. When the War was over he remained in California, married, raised a family and worked as a carpenter eventually becoming a General Building Contractor. He built beautiful homes and did other corporate construction work in the San Fernando Valley, Antelope Valley and Thousand Oaks. Red build the homes his family still live in today. He also built the Sunday school wing, lounge and did multiple interior projects at his church, Faith Lutheran. Growing up on a farm, he looked to the skies and always dreamed of flying and in later years he earned his pilots license and maintained a plane at Whitman Airport. He loved the outdoors, enjoying camping, hunting and fishing. When Red retired he became an avid gardener, not only at home but at a plot in the Sepulveda Basin. He had a love for the earth, more than a green thumb he had a gift of growing and grew the best tasting tomatoes ever. He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church for over 50 years, an active member of the Son's of Norway Narrona #50 Lodge in Van Nuys and the American Legion Post #308 in Reseda. Arrangement are being made through Gates, Kingsley and Gates Praiswater Mortuary in Canoga Park. There will be a private family interment at Glen Haven Memorial Park in Sylmar and a memorial service at Faith Lutheran Church 7500 De Soto Ave., Canoga Park, 12:00 noon, on Saturday, April 19, 2008, with reception and refreshments afterward. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Faith Lutheran Church or to the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org, 1-800-272-3900, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633). Red loved and was loved. He will be dearly missed but will live on in his soon to be born first great grandson.