Sven A. Flodstrom

Sven A. Flodstrom Obituary Sven A. Flodstrom, age 91, of Geneva, passed away Monday, April 27, 2026, at the Veterans Home in LaSalle with his family by his side. Sven Alfred was born at home at 667 W. 66th Street in Chicago on September 9, 1934 to Sven Oskar and Karin (Jonasson) Flodstrom.   When he arrived, he was welcomed by his older siblings, Dorothy, Gust, Marguerite, and Johnny. Dorothy (age 99) still remembers hearing her baby brother's initial cries as he entered this world. Sven loved growing up in his neighborhood on Chicago's West Side so he was upset when his parents decided to move to Batavia. His mom and dad knew several fellow Swedish immigrants that had relocated to this sleepy little town on the Fox River. Once they moved to 504 McKinley, it didn't take long for Sven Alfred (and Johnny) to make new friends. In fact, they would become lifelong friends with Warny Patzer, Glen Nelson, Shifty Shanahan, Herbie Schweikert, Andy Connolly, and the Malone boys- Bob and Wally. In 1943, 504 McKinley Street was on the edge of town, which allowed the Flodstroms to have a milking cow, horse, dog, cats and chickens. Growing up, all of the kids had chores. Sven Oskar and Karin believed in hard work. After all, they had migrated to America after Sweden experienced a severe economic downturn after WWI, leading to high unemployment and a decline in industrial jobs. Unlike earlier agricultural Swedish migrants, 1920s migrants were drawn to industrial manufacturing jobs and mining. In 1947, little Karl was born, making Sven Alfred a big brother. Three years later, in early 1950, Sven Oskar and Karin decided to move back to Sweden permanently. Obviously, Karl had to go and so did Sven. After all, he was only 15 years old so he didn't have a choice, much to his dismay. Once they arrived in Sweden, his parents signed him up for school. However, considering he didn't know Swedish, he couldn't attend school. Instead, he worked for his dad's oldest brother, Uncle Gustav, where he learned a trade as a tool and die maker. While over there, he told of how he missed his siblings, his HS buddies, and “American football". He decided to write letters to his big sister, Dorothy, begging her to convince their folks to let him move back to "the States”. Finally, after 9 months, they agreed to let him return home. Sven took a boat back to NYC (3 weeks) and then made his way back to Batavia. Once he returned, he went to talk to his counselor at Batavia HS. His counselor told him that he would be placed in the class below him considering he had missed a year of school. He was upset so he dropped out of high school. One day, while working at a job, Batavia HS principal, Robert Stuttle, visited him. He convinced him to return to school. Sven listened to him, and in 1953, he graduated from Batavia HS. He was forever grateful to Mr. Stuttle. After graduating high school, he knew he was going to be drafted just like his older brothers, Johnny and Gust. Gust served in the Army during WWII and the Korean War earning a Purple Heart Johnny served as a paratrooper in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division during the Korean War. After hitchhiking out West after HS, Sven decided to sign up for the Marines. While serving from 1954-57, he made lifelong buddies that would forever refer to him as “Rocks" due to his strength. He spent a year in Okinawa, Japan which he remembered fondly. "Rocks” never glorified war. In fact, he often said, “Veterans that glorified war, most likely never saw any combat/conflict, because if they did, they wouldn't talk so fondly about it.”. When Sven returned to Batavia as a civilian, he worked with Glen Nelson as a bricklayer/mason. He really enjoyed working with his best friend. When he would reminisce about those days, he would often say, "We worked hard, but we played harder... it's tough work, but it's also honest work and you can't beat that.”. After working as a mason for a few years, he joined his brothers and brother-in-law, Bud Patzer, working for Illinois Bell. “Ma Bell" was a great place to work…good pay, strong union, and incredible benefits. Sven worked as a repairman for Illinois Bell (later SBC Ameritech) for over 35 years making many friends, including his lifelong coworker, Jim Pioch.   One day in 1958, Sven drove up on his motorcycle to the local burger hangout. He was wearing blue jeans with the bottoms rolled up, a white t-shirt, and had his hair slicked back. The only reason we know these details is because that night, he caught the eye of a young girl named Patricia Slatinsky, who would later become his bride/wife/soulmate. Pat was out with some of her girlfriends from Mount St. Mary's that evening. Many years later, she would share these memories about that fateful day and how her heart raced when she first laid eyes on him.   Sven and Patricia married on September 16, 1961. They welcomed home their first and only daughter, Joan in 1962 while renting an apartment in St. Charles. In 1964, Sven and Pat purchased a house located at 34 Nebraska Street in Geneva for $11,750. That would be the one and only house they would ever purchase. Over the next several years, they welcomed home three boys, Glen, Sven Eric, and Mark. In 1974, they hired Hilmer Weiberg to put an addition onto the house. Glen Nelson and Sven's nephew, Steve Patzer, helped Sven build his dream fireplace in the new great room utilizing all of the beautiful rocks he had found/collected over the years. In his last days living at home, he was able to sit and enjoy the fruits of their labor.   Every day, when Sven came home from work, there was always a game going on…wiffle ball, rag ball, football, basketball, tag, kick-the-can, etc. Coming home and seeing his kids and all of the neighbor kids having fun, was all that mattered to him. Pat would often complain to him that the kids were “tearing up the yard”. His reply was simple but true. He said, "One day, we will come home and the grass will be perfect…no home plate, no base paths, no bases…and we will wish they were still here.".   While Sven Alfred barely graduated HS (his words), he valued education. He wanted all of his kids to attend college. He said he wanted “more" for his kids. He didn't want them to " labor” like he had to. However, when it came to “life", Sven Alfred had practical wisdom. He always “got the big picture". He was a man of few words, so when he did have something to say, you really wanted to listen.   Sven and Pat became “Morfar and Mormor” (Swedish for mother's father and mother's mother) with the arrival of Brandi and Amanda. They embraced these new roles. After all, they could spoil them and then go home. In 1996, Lars arrived making them “Farfar and Farmor" (Swedish for father's father and father's mother) followed by Sophie, Sven Anson, Aubrey, Hayden, Oskar, and Kendal. In 2021, Sven and Pat became great-grandparents with the birth of Nathan followed by Scarlett and Cal.   In 2016, Patricia was diagnosed with dementia. She became a resident of Arden Court. Each and every day, Sven would take a taxicab to visit Pat. He would arrive at 8:00 a.m. and leave at 7:00 p.m. My friend, Greg Kramer, whose father was a resident there, said it best, “His commitment and dedication not with words, but with actions for your Mom, was something totally extraordinary”. That was Sven though, always kind, thoughtful, and unassuming. He didn't do things for attention or show. He never wanted the spotlight. He would help others without any fanfare. He never said a cross word about anyone. He never cussed or swore. He rarely lost his temper. He was soft spoken so he didn't raise his voice. He never lectured, criticized, or judged others. If this doesn't sound believable, we understand. He truly was an anomaly.  In November of 2024, Sven lost the light of his life after 63 years of marriage. Patricia was laid to rest after battling dementia for several years. After Pat's passing, Annie Olson (Esther Flodstrom’s granddaughter) took great care of Sven until it became too difficult. It was at this time that Sven relocated to the Veterans Home in LaSalle, IL. The level of care that he received there was amazing. All of the caregivers were so kind and cooperative. Our family will be forever indebted to them.   This was a very difficult time for Sven but, like in true Viking fashion, he never complained or felt sorry for himself. He battled until the end, finally succumbing late Monday night.   In the end, Sven Alfred wouldn't want any of us to be sad. He would rather have us fondly reminisce over a cup of coffee or raise a glass/beer and shout “Skol"! He loved life and lived it to the fullest. He skydived, hiked the Grand Canyon in 1 day, ran the Chicago Marathon, and traveled to Sweden and Europe several times all after age 70. If you didn't know this, we understand, he never boasted or bragged. He just lived.   Sven is survived by children Joan (Scott) Marinko of St. Charles, Glen of LaSalle-Peru, Sven (Anne) of Lombard, and Mark (Stacy) of Plano; grandchildren Brandi (Jim) Stopka, Amanda (Tim) Hussey, Lars, Sophie, Oskar, Sven, Aubrey, Hayden, and Kendal Flodstrom; and great-grandchildren Callan Stopka and Nathan and Scarlett Hussey. He was preceded in death by his parents and loving wife Pat of 63 years. Visitation will be held Friday, May 1, 2026 from 4:00 - 8:00 pm at Malone Funeral Home, 324 E. State Street (Route 38), Geneva, Illinois. Funeral Service will be held Saturday, May 2 at 10:30 am at Malone Funeral Home. Burial will follow at River Hills Cemetery in Batavia. For information 630-232-8233 or www.malonefh.com. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sven A. Flodstrom, please visit our floral store. Read More