Message from Gamle Sonja
TORA: Go ahead and send this as is with my intro paragraphs, and I am attaching the three
most important emails from Marte below my signature explaining who Gus (Jim Jensen) was,
and when the Gathering is.
Send it all as is, even if it gets wordy and most of the people on your e-lists are too
young to remember Gus. What a character, but Aksel had him and Finn cabin counselors when
Aksel was 9. Talk about Culture Shock!
AKSEL: If it fits your website subject matter and criteria, and you have time to summarize
this, could you post something on the Skog-Oldie page? Maybe Tora could remind her e-list
of Aksel's Skogfjorden web list and password.
I realize many of you were too young to know him, but he was a camper the second year of
Skogfjorden (1964), and worked his way up to CIT, Asst. Counselor, Counselor, Staff
Counselor, etc. He was mainly there in the '60s and early '70s, and we loved him
dearly--what a cuddly teddy bear...and he played guitar, sang, and wrote poetry. He had
the greatest sense of humor! It was impossible to be crabby around him.
In the event someone on Tora's list remembers him, or someone finds it on the SkogAlum
page, they are more than welcome to attend the Memorial Service (mainly Skogfjorden folks)
on Sunday at Mindekirken in Mpls.
Mange takk, Gamle Sonja
MARTA'S EMAILS:
#1 12/29/06
Dear Skogfjordenites, past and present,
He kind of dropped away from the Norwegian scene after then, until about 5 years ago, when
Kristi Synsteby and I turned him on to Virtual Norway and the Internet. Unfortunately by
that time his health did not permit him to actually travel to Norway, but he found great
pleasure in Aftenposten.no, Norskklassen, and lots of other web sites. He even began a
correspondence with some miscellaneous Norwegian who runs a weather site. He also wrote
more than once to Per Egil Hegge, the Aftenposten language columnist. Gustav var opptatt
av språk! Every possible detail with grammar, nuance, usage. He used to send me lists of
words he had found on the web that weren't in any dictionary--what do these mean???
This interests finally led him to the project that became his obsession the last 3
years--Nelsbok publishing. He is the man behind the new versions of Naiv. Super. by Erlend
Loe--(you know, the one with marginal glosses and end glossary), Jernvognen, by Stein
Riverton, and its English translation, The Iron Chariot. The first two have been used in
Norwegian instruction both at colleges and universities and at Mindekirken. He said the
English translation has been a good seller at import shops. They are all available through
nelsbok.com (you can see sample pages), as well as Skandisk. He had great plans for more
books in the series, but unfortunately didn't live to see that happen.
Anyway, if anyone out there does remember him, there will be a memorial service at
Mindekirken in Minneapolis, on Sunday Jan. 7 beginning at 2 pm. It will be a time for
stories, singing, good food (his wife Linda promises smørbrød, fruit, veggies and cookies).
Dere er hjertelig velkommen!
Med vennlig hilsen
#2 12/29/06
Hei hei!
I think it would be nice to sing some of the song he liked:
Other ideas?
Could we manage Hey Jude??? I guess he has a couple of cousins who will also bring musical
instruments--guitar, banjo, perhaps accordion?
Marte
#3 1/3/07
Hei hei!
Don't forget, Sunday Jan. 7 2 pm at Mindekirken:
How to find Mindekirken:Location:
1 block south of E. Franklin at 10th. Ave. South
Parking: Entrances to parking lot from 10th Ave S., and from E. 21st Street - shared
parking lot aside City-County Federal Credit UnionMailing address:
924 E. 21st St.
Map to Mindekirken
Tusen takk!
aka
Suzann Nelson
Author-Editor-Speaker-Humorist
www.ruralroutebookstore.com
Orders: 800-494-9124 / orders@ruralroutebookstore.com
Subject: Gustav er død
I know most of you are MUCH too young to have known Gustav, but I send this on the off
chance. Gustav, AKA Jim Jensen, died last Thursday. He began at Skogfjorden the same year
I did--1964 (I was only 2, you know!). He continued attending camp first as camper, then
Dean's Aid, counselor, staff counselor, etc. etc. until the early 70s. He was especially
known for his guitar playing (back in the 60s we used to sing "Hey Jude" med full hals when
we were traveling somewhere by bus!), and his wicked sense of humor.
Marte (1964-1978)
========================
I just had a voicemail from Linda--phone tag (one of my sons on the phone when she
called!). Anway, she has tentatively (she said, though it sounded pretty definite)
scheduled a room at Mindekirken for Sunday Jan. 7 from 2-4 pm. It is a smaller room, that
holds 30-40 people, with plenty of room for songs, story telling, etc. She has arranged
for some light food with the Mindekirken catering folks.
Det står ein friar
Skogfjorden (Nidelven)
Vi skal ikke sova
========================
If anyone has any pictures of Gustav from the Skogfjorden days, his wife, Linda, would
really appreciate having them for the gathering on Sunday. You could scan and email to me
or Kristi "Kristi T. Synsteby"
(between Chicago and Bloomington Ave.)
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952
USA
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&country=US&popflag=0&latitude=&longitude=&n
ame=&phone=&level=&addtohistory=&cat=&address=924+E+21st+St&city=Minneapolis&state=MN&zipcode=554
04
Marte