Word has been received of the sudden death of Jerker Saxentorp, 51, of Vargarda, Sweden.On Thursday, August 25, 2016. Jerker passed away on his way to work.
He was born April 22, 1965 to Elov and Britta Johansson, and went to school and lived his entire life in the community of Vargarda.
Jerker first came to Preston, Minn., at age 19, through the MAST (Minnesota Ag Student Trainee) program, in July of 1984 to Rumpus Ridge Farms dairy to learn and work with Jerry and Nancy Gartner’s family. He then attended classes at the University of Minnesota for a semester.
After returning to Sweden, he worked on their family dairy farm, then for the Swedish railroad system, the Swedish Church in landscape maintenance, and was currently self-employed as a carpenter.
In 1999 he formed a tour company, Saxentorp Tours, with his partner, Crister Brunnegard and they started bringing Swedish visitors to Minnesota and the Preston, Lanesboro, and Harmony areas several times a year. His last visit was on July 4, 2016 and their group helped celebrate Independence Day in Harmony, Minn.
He is survived by Ewa Saxentorp and their two daughters, Annabelle and Cornelia; his mother, Britta Johansson; brother Anders and family, sister Annika and family, as well as other family and friends in Sweden.
Jerker was preceded in death by his father, Elof Johansson.
Memorial services will be held on Friday, September 23, 2016 at Kullings Skovde church in Vargarda, Sweden.
He will be remembered and missed by his many friends in America. Peace be with you, our special friend.