Karol DuClos

Anna Sophia Gustafsdotter of Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois United States was born on April 23, 1840 in Larv, Västra Götaland County Sweden, and was the mother of Gert (Ekstedt) Lundberg, Charles Ekstedt, and Matilda Ekstedt. Anna Gustafsdotter died at age 72 years old on March 13, 1913 in Rockford, Illinois United States.

Lewis Birger Lundberg was born in Sweden with his 2 sisters, Wilhelmina and Emma. A third sister was born in the USA but contracted Spanish flu and passed away as an infant. She is buried along with Lewis and Emma and their parents on the family plot in Scandinavian Cemetery in Rockford Il. Lewis was much loved by the entire community in Rockford, IL. especially on 7th St. which was the main Swedish street in Rockford. After working as a fireman, he worked as a mailman with the 7th St. route where he and his kindness became much loved. Grandpa Lew literally married the girl next door--Gertrude Ekstedt. They were a lovely couple and my grandparents. Unfortunately, Lew had an attack of gall bladder trouble and was taken to Swedish American Hospital to have it removed. Sadly, something was cut too short and they could not stop the bleeding and in spite of blood donations, he passed away in 1949. (Doesn't happen that way today they reassured me when I had my gall bladder out!) The community mourned with flags at half mast. I loved him dearly and remember being bounced on his leg as he recited Rida, Rida Ranka. I loved it. Poor Gert was devastated and we all mourned. It is believed he would have been mayor had he lived.

Gert (Ekstedt) Lundberg of 218 S Rockford Ave, in Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois United States was born on May 20, 1882 in Gothenburg, Västra Götaland County Sweden, and died at age 82 years old circa November 1964 in Rockford, Illinois United States. Gert Lundberg was buried in November 64 at Scandinavian Cemetery 1700 Rural St, in Rockford.

Almeda M Ekstedt of Bellevue, King County, WA was born on November 4, 1929, and died at age 65 years old on November 25, 1994.

Katherine Ekstedt of Geelong W Australia was born in 1877 to Lynch James Ekstedt and Margaret Mcmahon Ekstedt. Katherine Ekstedt died at age 61 years old in 1938 in Geelong W.

Emma was indeed born in Sweden in a town between the 2 big lakes. She had a brother--Lewis Lundberg, my grandfather, and 2 sisters--Wilhelmina and a baby sister who died before she was 2 in Rockford, Il. (Sister is buried on the Lundberg plot in Scandinavian Cemetery, Rockford, IL. as is Emma and Grandpa Lew. Emma went to the University of Wisconsin earning a Master's degree. She worked in Hull House with Jane Addams and Emma's dear friend Katherine Lenroot whose father was a United States Senator from Wisconsin. They headed to Washington, DC where they worked in the Roosevelt administration and lived on Volta Place with Katherine and their cat. Emma was a wonderful researcher and published books including "Unto the Least of These." ) She was a tremendous researcher in the area of child welfare. She developed Parkinsons disease and moved to Hartsdale where Katherine cared for her. My family visited her there in what was called Tower House. Emma didn't recognize any of us but said she recognized my father's shirt. Her brother Lewis' wife, my grandmother whom she knew well was with us, but poor Emma just wasn't very present. Funeral services and burial in Rockford on our family plot. One day I will be buried next to her.