Obituary of Sylvan Skarsgard

Peder Sylvan (Syl) Skarsgard passed away Thursday, July 30 at 90. He is loved and remembered by his wife Doreen, his daughter Cheryl (David) Hedlin and his son Lloyd Skarsgard; his grandsons Peter (Cherise), Matthew and Erik Hedlin, and Erik’s partner Melissa Koch; his great-grandsons Henrik and Alrik Hedlin; his siblings Margaret (Roy) Ardell, Harvey (Ilse) Skarsgard, and Lloyd (Margaret) Skarsgard; members of Doreen’s Isaachsen family; and his many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Borghild and Haakon Skarsgard; parents-in-law Erling and Nannie Isaachsen; sisters-in-law Anne Skarsgard, Betty Larsen, and Shirley Bondy. Sylvan was born near Viscount Saskatchewan on March 21, 1925. He attended the Logan and Viscount schools. After leaving the farm and marrying, he worked 15 years with the Department of Transport. He took a leave in 1958 to study for a Civil Engineering degree. In 1967 he was hired at the U of S to direct the planning and building of major projects. These included Engineering, Agriculture, Geology, Veterinary Medicine, VIDO, the Place Riel Centre, Dental College, Cancer Centre, Physical Activity Complex, Diefenbaker Centre; as well as the major expansions of Thorvaldson, Law/Commerce, Physics, Health Sciences, RUH, the MUB, and Administration building. He retired in 1991. To the end, Sylvan’s family was his pride and joy. His deepest and most enduring focus has been his wife Doreen. Over the years they travelled to all parts of Canada and much of the United States. In his undemonstrative (call it Scandinavian) manner, he established many fond relationships with members of Redeemer Lutheran Church, residents at the Sierras Condos, colleagues and associates at the University and DoT, relatives in Norway, and the cohort of family and friends who took the time for a game or two of cards.