Hegg, John Olaf -- 1921 - 2005

HEGG, BAKKE, SERSLAND, LINNEVOLD, HIGBEE, OLSON, PAVELKO, STEINBACH, GIPP

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 7/26/2012 at 12:06:24

John O. Hegg, age 83 of Decorah, died on Saturday, March 12, 2005 at Barthell Eastern Star Nursing Home in Decorah following a brief illness.

Funeral Service is at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Decorah, IA by Rev. Kim W. Smith, with burial in the church cemetery.

Visitation is on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and on Wednesday after 10:00 am at the church.

John Olaf Hegg was born October 28, 1921, to Isabelle (Bakke) and Johannes Hegg of Springfield Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa. He was baptized November 27, 1921, by Rev. Paul Koren at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. His sponsors were Sigurd & Ruth (Bakke) Hanson, Lettie Hegg and Gustav Hegg. He was confirmed on June 21, 1936, at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church.

In his early years, John attended Red Oak school, studied piano lessons, played saxophone with the high school band and baseball with the Red Oak team. Upon his father’s death, at the age of 14, John, his mother and hired men farmed the family farm, while John was a student. John graduated from Decorah High School with the class of 1940.

He was united in marriage to his high school classmate, Norma Margaret Sersland, on September 7, 1944 by Rev. Oscar Engebretson at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. To this union, three children were born: Jendean, Ilene, and John.

John was a life-long farmer on the land settled by his great grandparents, Ole and Kari (Linnevold) Hegg in 1853. He was an active member of Washington Prairie Lutheran Church and involved in numerous church functions. He was also a member of Winneshiek County Pork Producers, Farm Bureau and sang with the Luren Singing Society.

John’s interests included watching baseball, especially the Chicago Cubs, and attending musical performances by his grandchildren in Decorah, West Salem, WI and Sturgeon Bay, WI. He had fond memories of his U.S. travels and especially his trip to Norway in 2000.

John died Saturday, March 12, 2005 at Barthell Eastern Star Nursing Home in Decorah after a brief illness at the age of 83 years.

John was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Norma, on September 15, 1996 and his sister, Ruth Higbee, on February 6, 1999.

He is survived by his three children, Jendean (Rev. Dan G.) Olson, Sturgeon Bay, WI; Ilene (Raymond) Pavelko, West Salem, WI; John M. (Mary) Hegg, Decorah; seven grandchildren: Andrew J. Olson, Sturgeon Bay, WI; Angela (Mark) Steinbach, Casco, WI; Aaron J. Olson, Minneapolis, MN; Leah Pavelko, Milwaukee, WI; Rachel Pavelko, West Salem, WI; John A.(Katy) Hegg, Davenport, IA; Crystal Hegg of Decorah. He is further survived by 3 sisters-in-law, Edith Gipp and Marie Sersland of Decorah and Gerda Sersland of Newton, IA; and by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database

Washington Prairie Lutheran cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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