Remembering Grandpa

This past weekend, Canon and I traveled to Minnesota to celebrate the life of my Grandpa, Ed Sovik. He passed away last week after a long battle with Parkinson's. His obituary describes just a few of the amazing accomplishments he achieved throughout his life.

 

Sovik, Edward Anders age 95, of Northfield, May 4, 2014. Born of Lutheran missionaries in Henan Province, China, he left at 17 to enroll in St. Olaf College along with a twin brother and an older sister, graduating in 1939. He went on to study painting at the Art Students League in New York, and later theology at Luther Seminary in St. Paul. After the attack on Pearl Harbor he enlisted in the Marine Corps, serving as a night fighter pilot in the Pacific; he was awarded a Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross. In 1949, he earned his architecture degree from Yale University and began an architectural practice in Northfield and a teaching career in the St. Olaf art department. While churches were a focus of his practice, his work ranged widely, including many buildings for St. Olaf, Carleton, Concordia (Moorhead), and Stevens colleges, the University of Minnesota, and other institutional projects. He was a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, a president of the Minnesota Society of the AIA, and a recipient of its Gold Medal. His book, Architecture for Worship, was published in 1973, and he wrote numerous professional articles and monographs. He was a man of many interests and talents, including drawing and poetry, and will be further remembered for his good will, eloquence, and quiet generosity. In 1946, he married Genevieve Hendrickson, who died in 2000. In 2001 he married Anne Running. Survived by his wife Anne, sons Rolf (Mary Gail), Martin, Peter (Lauren); stepchildren Julia and Andrew Tabbut; granddaughters Amanda Sovik-Johnston (Robert), Katherine Schultz (Aaron); three great-grandsons; brother Arne (Ellen), sister Margaret Lindell; and his nieces and nephews. The family extends heartfelt thanks to the devoted staff at the Northfield Hospital Long Term Care Center for their professional and loving care. A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 10 at 2:00 at St. John's Lutheran Church, 500 3rd St. W., Northfield, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Memorials preferred to St. John's Lutheran Church, St. Olaf College, Luther Seminary, Concordia College, or Habitat for Humanity. biermanfuneralhome.com

It is hard to put into words how I feel about him and his passing. We didn't see him a lot, especially as we got older, but I always knew he loved us and supported us . Until he couldn't, he wrote the sweetest cards to us on holidays and birthdays, and had handwriting that was only readable to a "trained" eye. He was certainly of a different generation, as I remember sitting in his living room attempting to explain to him what Instant Messaging was when I was in middle school. They had a pool in their backyard and when we would visit in the summers, I remember many days swimming, playing, shucking corn on the deck and playing Gin Rummy on the screened porch. He did many things for my sister and I, probably so much more than I even know about, and I am so proud to have known him.  

I'm glad Canon and I were able to be there to remember him. It is always nice to have young life running around during these times, and Canon provided exactly the sort of comic relief and cuteness that was needed. It was great to see family and hear the stories of a man that was so well respected. We will certainly miss him, and I hope to be able to pass down my own sweet memories as well as his professional legacy to my children.