Sven T. Nylen, an 18-year resident of the Carson City and Dayton areas, died May 1, 2002, at home.
Mr. Nylen was born June 21, 1915 in Chicago to Thure and Anna Nylen.
Thure Nylen, born March 17, 1885 in South Bend, Ind., served as a U.S. Mail carrier from 1907 until retiring in 1945. His mother, Anna, a homemaker, was born in Trohallten, Sweden, in 1886.
Sven attended schools in Chicago's Roseland area, graduating from Fenger High School in 1931. He had a tremendous love of music and played the cornet in the school band. As a boy he enjoyed caddying at different golf courses for 5-cent tips. He was a lifelong Cubs fan and enjoyed listening to them play on the radio when he was growing up.
He graduated in 1936 with a bachelor's of science degree in civil engineering from the Armour Institute of Technology (now the Illinois Institute of Technology). He attended Armour on a scholarship at the recommendation of his high school principal.
Following a long and successful career in Chicago's construction industry, Mr. Nylen received a distinguished service award for his work with the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart.
For 36 years, Mr. Nylen served as a construction consultant for the Missionary Sisters and their Columbus-Cuneo-Cabrini Medical Center. On Sept. 23, 1983, he received the award from Sister Erma Lunghi with a certificate saying, "His dedication to the philosophy and mission of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart has been an inspiration to all who worked with him."
Mr. Nylen came to the Missionary Sisters in 1967, having closed the construction company Farrell-Nylen he formed in the 1950s with partner George Farrell. The company was active in the construction of schools and worked extensively on projects with the Missionary Sisters.
Mr. Nylen and his wife, Ann, lived in Riverside, Ill., for more than 30 years before coming to Nevada.
Mr. Nylen's greatest accomplishment and joy in his life was his family.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ann; three daughters Pat Douglass-Woodruff of Reno, Penny Zarwell of Hubertus, Wis., and Paula Sestito, of Chicago; two sons Sven T. Nylen III of Coral Springs, Fla., and Robert A. Nylen of Dayton; and 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held in Chicago.