Selmer George Grovdahl

Selmer was baptized at the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, rural Ossian.

He was confirmed in the Ossian Lutheran Church.

Selmer was graduated from the Ossian Public Schools and Hamilton Business College in Cedar Rapids. He was a former Frudden Lumber Company and Milwaukee Railroad employee. For many years he was in partnership with his brother, Lawrence, in the Grovdahl Grocery Store until 1940. As a well known member of the community, he wrote for special occasions. Especially noteworthy was a poem he sent to President Herbert Hoover which received recognition from the president and was placed in the congressional record. He also received a meritorious award for safety performance from the Milwaukee Railroad.

Obituary: Selmer George Grovdahl Selmer George (Sam) Grovdahl, 89, of Ossian died Friday, March 22,1991, at the Aase Haugen Home in Decorah. He was born the son of Hans and Anna Margaret (Egeland) Grovdahl in Nordness, Springdale Township, Winneshiek County, April 9> 1901. Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 26, at the Ossian Lutheran Church with Rev. Wayne Ellingson officiating. Organist was Diane Kvamme, soloist was his nephew Rev. Kristen Kvamme, Casket bearers were John Kvamme, Orville Winger, Victor Halvorson, Bradley Brockman, Jim Bumside and George Peck. Burial was at Hillside Cemetery with Schmitz Funeral Home of Ossian handling the arrangements. Sam was baptized at the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church rural Decorah, and was confirmed in the Ossian Lutheran Church. He graduated from the Ossian Public Schools and Hamilton Business College in Cedar Rapids, I A. He was a former Frudden Lumber Company and Milwaukee Railroad employee. For many years he was in partnership with his brother Laurence in the Grovdahl Grocery Store until 1940. He is survived by one brother, Harry Grovdahl, McGregor; one sister Hannah Kvamme, Ossian. Five nephews; Rev. Kristen Kvamme, Decorah, Kenneth Kvamme, Sarasota, FL; John Kvamme, Dearborn Heights, MI; Lowell Gilbert, Flushing, NY; and Dean Gilbert, Mesa, AZ; and five nieces; Peggy Osborn, Ossian, IA; Elaine Jennings, Clawson, MI; Lorraine De Laurenti and Leona Smith, Seattle, WA; Constance Hansen, Palo, IA. Several great-nieces and nephews also survived him. Preceding him in death were his parents, a brother, Lawrence, and four sisters, Helen Smith, Helga Grovdahl, Thea Wood and Gerda Gilbert.