Nils Gunnar Berglund

Nils Gunnar Berglund (1943-2022) died at Javon Bea Hospital in Rockford, Illinois with his family by his side.

Born August 23, 1943 to Nils and Miriam (Granstrom) Berglund in Chicago, Illinois.

Gunnar grew up in Chicago and Brook Park, Minnesota. He made numerous trips to Sweden as a young boy and even learned the Swedish language.

Gunnar graduated from Von Stubben High School in 1962. Gunnar always said they graduated him to get rid of him because he was always in to mischief.

He started to train as a plumber, but decided to enlist in the US Navy, which he was proud of to this day. Gunnar was sent to Vietnam where he earned the Bronze Medal for Bravery.

Gunnar returned home and continued his plumbing training and became a union plumber, working in Chicago. He then decided to become a farmer. Gunnar bought his farm in Capron, Illinois and his time in Minnesota taught him well. Gunnar also continued plumbing and started his own company “Pioneer Plumbing.”

In 1993, he became a plumbing inspector for the state of Illinois, working in Harvard and Boone County, retiring in 2020.

On January 9, 1999 Gunnar married his life’s love Carol Carlson. Gunnar and Carol spent a lot of time traveling and fishing.

Fishing was his passion. For fifty years, he went to Canada bringing along a lot of young boys, teaching them the ropes of fishing, where the holes were and how to avoid all the hazards. His fishing stories will live on forever.

He is survived by his loving wife Carol; his children Christine (Bill) Anderson, JoAnne (Jim) Lukstein, Andrew (Lexi) Berglund, Brett (Sandy) Frederick, Shannon (Robert) Diamond and Phillip Frederick; ten grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; many friends and cousins in Sweden.

Predeceased by his parents, Nils and Miriam Berglund, many aunts, uncles and cousins in Sweden.

Inurnment will be at a later date in a VA national cemetery.

Visitation will be July 2, 2022 at Blaine United Methodist Church from 9:30 – 12:00. 7200 Blaine Road Poplar Grove, Illinois 61065. Services at 12:00 noon with Pastor Tom Hay officiating. Military honors to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the family for an undetermined charity of their choice.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.saundersmcfarlin.net

Call Saunders & McFarlin Funeral Home for more info at 815-943-5400.

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