Akesson, Torvald & Elsa1

Torvald Åkesson
1916 - 1990

Torvald was three years old when World War I ended; he lived through the entire span of World War II and the bombing of Hiroshima, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War. I am glad he lived long enough to see their demise and perhaps the beginning of an era of peace and tranquility.

There is an Old World charm - a certain indefinable aura - that is only found “back home” in Sweden. Torvald and Elsa Åkesson are the embodiment of this charm.

I met Torvald and his wife Elsa for the first time when my ex-husband (Wesley Long) and I visited Sweden in 1961. I’ll never forget the courtesy and hospitality shown to us by the Åkessons. We were both in our 20’s then and this was our first time trip to Europe. Torvald and Elsa treated us like visiting royalty - I was not used to such courtly charm. We could not speak any Swedish, but fortunately Torvald spoke English; unfortunately Elsa could not, but her warm welcome shown through her eyes.
Mary Wiberg and Wesley Long
And the Heinkel we bought and sold in Europe
1961
In front of Torvald and Elsa’s home
Örtofta, Sweden
(train station on the right)

Torvald and his family were at least the third generation to live in Örtofta. Elsa still lives there. Torvald was the Station Master at the Railroad Station (now torn down) just across the street. He explained to us that he had to know some English in connection with his job, thus we were the beneficiaries of his knowledge. If it weren’t for that, I would have missed out on a lot of family history. As it was, I did miss out on a lot of information because I wasn’t interested enough at the time to ask. Torvald saw that I got the information anyhow. I am sure he knew that I was the one who would have the future interest. And he was right; it is largely because of him that I am now interested in our family and it’s history. He had done a lot of research himself and passed on genealogy charts, pictures, and facts to me. If it weren’t for Torvald I would never have known that our common ancestor, Johanna, had three husbands and eight children. I didn’t even know there was a Johanna.

Torvald Åkesson
1916 - 1990
1

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Torvald Åkesson 1916 - 1990
Torvald was three years old when World War I ended; he lived through the entire span of World War II and the bombing of Hiroshima, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War. I am glad he lived long enough to see their demise and perhaps the beginning of an era of peace and tranquility. There is an Old World charm - a certain indefinable aura - that is only found “back home” in Sweden. Torvald and Elsa Åkesson are the embodiment of this charm.
I met Torvald and his wife Elsa for the first time when my ex-husband (Wesley Long) and I visited Sweden in 1961. I’ll never forget the courtesy and hospitality shown to us by the Åkessons. We were both in our 20’s then and this was our first time trip to Europe. Torvald and Elsa treated us like visiting royalty - I was not used to such courtly charm. We could not speak any Swedish, but fortunately Torvald spoke English; unfortunately Elsa could not, but her warm welcome shown through her eyes.	Mary Wiberg and Wesley Long And the Heinkel we bought and sold in Europe 1961 In front of Torvald and Elsa’s home Örtofta, Sweden (train station on the right)
Torvald and his family were at least the third generation to live in Örtofta. Elsa still lives there. Torvald was the Station Master at the Railroad Station (now torn down) just across the street. He explained to us that he had to know some English in connection with his job, thus we were the beneficiaries of his knowledge. If it weren’t for that, I would have missed out on a lot of family history. As it was, I did miss out on a lot of information because I wasn’t interested enough at the time to ask. Torvald saw that I got the information anyhow. I am sure he knew that I was the one who would have the future interest. And he was right; it is largely because of him that I am now interested in our family and it’s history. He had done a lot of research himself and passed on genealogy charts, pictures, and facts to me. If it weren’t for Torvald I would never have known that our common ancestor, Johanna, had three husbands and eight children. I didn’t even know there was a Johanna.