Special Note
After enduring many health problems recently, we are sad to announce that Ronald I. Peterson, 88, passed away on June 22, 2024.
For many years Ron served on the Board as the Dean. He made so many contributions to the life, activities and physical upkeep of the Jenny Lind chapel, museum and grounds that it is hard to enumerate them.
Many of us fondly remember the Augustana Founders Day Reunion held on April 24-25, 2015. Ron organized and presided at this event in Andover attended by 156 people including special guests Tom Tredway, Gary Wollersheim and Elizabeth Eaton along with the Augustana Choir. Ron started the Saturday program with his talk, "The Augustana Seed is Sown in Andover".
To hear his voice again, you may wish to hear him narrate this excellent two minute video report of the Jenny Lind Chapel services and activities of 2021. This video was watched at the Northern Illinois Synod Assembly in June, 2022.
Ron's memorial service will be at 11:30 am on Saturday, June 29, 2024 at Augustana Lutheran Church in Andover. Visitation will start at 10:30 am. The service was live streamed on his obituary page at esterdahl.com. Here is the obituary.
Additional Comments
Gordon Rehn, Dean
Jenny Lind Chapel
"Ron was a passionate leader in the Andover community. He was a devout, active member of Augustana Lutheran Church, serving on several committees, and filling multiple roles within the church. He was also a driving force behind the Andover Historical Society and the Andover Tourism Council."
Vespers
Brief 7:00 pm Sunday evening worship and a variety of music conducted by area congregations. Here is the schedule.
June 30 - Pr. Laurie Hensley, Bethany Lutheran, Woodhull
July 28 - The details will be announced.
August 25 - Pr. Randy Willers
Annual Swedish Högmässa Service
Jenny Lind Chapel
Sunday, September 22, 4 pm
The speaker will be Pr. Melinda Pupillo, Augustana Campus Chaplin. The liturgy will be led by Mark Safstrom, Associate Professor of Scandinavian Studies at Augustana College. The pianist will be Terri Nelson.
The Chapel and museum will be open every day, 9 am to 5 pm, April through October.
The building is air conditioned, for your comfort and to help preserve the artifacts. A five minute narrated slideshow about the history of the Chapel may be viewed on the iPad located on the desk in the museum. You may listen to the narration in English or Swedish. We also have a Facebook page.
Check out these 360 degree views of the Chapel and Museum. Here are the Chapel cemetery tombstone inscriptions. Here is the Find a Grave webpage for this cemetery and a tabulation of the 109 names of those who are buried there. Lars Paul Esbjörn is buried in Uppsala län, Sweden.
Student tour
Jenny Lind Chapel and Museum Visitor Survey
Please, if you have visited the Jenny Lind Chapel and/or the museum housed on the chapel's lower level, at any time, kindly fill out this 16 question survey that should take approximately 5-10 minutes of your time. Thank you for your time and input.