Olof Hogrelius är död!

Olof Wilhelm Hogrelius, Jr., was born September 12, 1945 in Hackensack, NJ to parents Olof and Elizabeth (Dayspring) Hogrelius. He grew up in Hillsdale and Woodcliff Lake, NJ before moving to Princeton, NJ. He died September 28, 2014 in Durango, CO. He is survived by sisters Judy Hardardt and Jennifer Dehlinger; sons Christopher and Jonathan Hogrelius; and grandchildren Zanden, Ajia, Addison, Neruda, Oswaldo and Juniper Hogrelius.

An accomplished builder, glass artist and consummate philosopher, he left a wealth of loving memories for all who befriended him. After graduating from St. Peter's Prep in Peekskill, N.Y. and serving his country in the US Navy, Olof attended Michigan State University and Parsons College in Iowa. There he met his wife and mother of his children, Francoise Morel. They lived in France, Pennsylvania and Tucson, AZ. In 2007 he found paradise in Pagosa Springs, CO.

Olof was a beloved friend to many. Pagosa friends can join the family in a memorial celebration of his life at his home on Saturday, October 4 at 2pm.

Min farfars bror hette Oscar Högrelius, han var en av många som sökte sin lycka i USA i slutet av 1800-talet. Jag minns från min barndom hur det kom brev från honom och hur han längtade efter att kunna få resa hem och hälsa på. Så blev det aldrig.
Hans son Olof föddes 1907 och här sitter han livs levande som 101 år gammal!
Min pappas kusin med andra ord.
Det talades svenska när han växte upp och han förstår fortfarande vårt språk.
I USA heter man naturligtvis Hogrelius, de små prickarna faller bort "over there"!



För ett par veckor sedan talade jag med ett av Olofs barnbarn via Skype och fick se via webcam deras nyfödda son.
Jag känner ett visst vemod att se bilden på denna gamla man med klara drag av min far i sitt ansikte.
Blod är tjockare än vatten sägs det? Är det så?

Jag skrev detta 2008 och som sagt var då levde Olof fortfarande. Nu är både han och hans son med samma namn döda och vår släkt i USA håller på att tappa rötterna till Sverige.
"Gamle Olof" var född av helsvenska föräldrar men som all annan historia med emigranter så gifter man sig med andra amerikaner av annat ursprung. Det blir ett slut med att äta pannkakor med lingonsylt osv som den "gamle" gjorde i hela sitt liv. IKEA blev ett paradis för honom eftersom där fanns det svensk mat att köpa.

Vila i frid Olof!


PS  Oscar Hogrelius. 

Among the foremost builders in 
the Woodcliff section is Oscar 
Hogrelius. Although in business 




only a few years, he has erected 
numerous buildings, and has prac- 
tically built up the whole length of 
29th Street, Woodcliff. He special- 
ized in cozy residential dwellings, 
for which that section is so well 
known. He has, however, of late 
erected two large, beautiful apart- 
ment houses on 28th Street. Mr. 
Hogrelius built the Church of In- 
tercession in New York. He is one 



127 



of the most successful contractors 
and builders in the northern part 
of the county. He is thorough in 
every detail, energetic, and practical 
in carrying out his contracts, and 
prompt in all he undertakes. His 
splendid foresight, integrity, and 
sound judgment, and his capacity 
for business has brought him into 
more than local prominence. As 
his business has always occ.upied 
his full time, he has never affiliated 
himself with any political or frater- 
nal organization.' He takes a great 
interest in church work, and is, na- 
turally, much interested in civic 
work. 

Mr. Hogrelius was born in Swe- 
den, January 25th, 1865. There he 
received his early education and 
later learned his trade. In 1899 he 
immigrated to this country, and 
settled in New York, later moving 
to Woodcliff, where he soon after 
engaged in business for himself. 

In 1906 he married Edith Olson, 
with whom he has one son, Olaf .

 

 

 Okome Halland in sweden, maybe Oscar are one of the guys here in the pic.?