Gustaf Emil Oscarson is 147!

My grandfather, Gustaf Emil Oscarson, was born June 8, 1862 at Petterslund, Vårdinge (parish), Stockholms län, Sweden. He was the third of nine children born to Oskar August Andersson and Anna Lovisa Hellström.

I was not yet three years old when he died, so I never knew him personally, but through the years I have gained an enormous appreciation for this great man who stands at the head of the Oscarson family.

He learned the value of hard work from his parents and at an early age was working as a hired hand on neighboring farms. It was at Vassudden, on a neighboring estate that he may have met his first love, Johanna Fredrika Åkerlind. Their destinies took them to Stockholm where they were first exposed to the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Johanna joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, followed by Gustaf Emil.

In 1890, grandpa packed a trunk and set out for "zion" in the American west. It was here that he and Johanna were married and became the parents of three children, two of whom (John Emil and Elsa Johanna) would survive. Lily Maria lived less than a year. By the time of Johanna's death in 1902, her sister, Lovisa Wilhelmina (aka "Minnie") had joined the church and also gathered to Utah. She came to help grandpa with his two young children and in time became the second love of his life. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on April 16, 1903

When my grandmother was expecting her fourth child (my father), grandpa received a mission call to return to his homeland and preach the Gospel. Through their combined faith, the call was accepted and his young family was left in the hands of the Lord. Many miraculous things occured as a reuslt of this service, including the conversion of grandpa's mother and that of his brother, Hjalmar, and Hjalmar's family. The family has always felt grateful for this example of faith in accepting calls to serve. Grandpa served in Sweden for two years and during that time baptized thirteen converts. He returned home to Pleasant Grove, Utah on December 10, 1910.

He was set apart in March, 1815 as the first counselor to the bishop of the Pleasant Grove First Ward and served in that capacity for many years.

One of the things I especially appreciate about grandpa is the reputation he had for always helping those in need. He would be the first to hitch a team of horses to help a neighbor and was a kind and helpful example to all who knew him.

He spent his life working the 17 acres he called home in Pleasant Grove as a fruit grower. He raised 10 children on that little farm and together with my angel grandmother established a legacy of faith and faithfulness for his posterity. I never knew my grandpa personally, but have come to know and love the man he is and look forward to the day when I can thank him personally for all he did to make our lives as blessed as they are.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Grandpa!