Asbjørn Skogsrud (1896 – 1971)

John Asbjørn Skogsrud
Birth: 17 March 1896, Gjøvik, Norway
Death: 10 December 1971, Gjøvik, Norway
Parents: John Oskar Johannesen Olsen (1979 ~ 1967) and Hilda Lovise Berntsdatter Volden (married Skogsrud) (1874-1946) 
Half-siblings:
— via mother: Bergljot Josefine Skogsrud (married Felde)
— via father: Bergliot Louise, Alf Reidar, Svanhild Jorun, Signe and Magnus Oddvar
Wife: Harriet Næss Skogsrud

Children

Rolf Bredo Sander, Henny Evelyn (married Nilsen), Lillian Harriet (married Osa), Sonja Mildred (married Hallberg), Vera Marion (married Eriksen) (for details see Harriet’s entry).

Life events and evidence

He was born in Gjøvik on 17 March 1896, the illegitimate son of Hilda Lovise Berntsen. On his birth record his father was listed as 17 year old apprentice tanner, Oscar John Johannesen. He spent his childhood and adolescence in Biri and can be seen to be living at Voldstuen in Biri with his maternal grandparents in the 1900 census records. By the 1910 Census his mother had married for a second time and he was living with her, her husband and their daughter. They were living at Skogsrud in Biri providing them with the surname they kept.

I am not sure when he moved back to Gjøvik but this is where he was living at the time of his marriage to my grandmother. They were married in Oslo on 26 December 1917 and had 5 children. As long as I can remember they lived in the same house where he lived until his death on 10 December 1971 aged 75. He worked for NSB, the Norwegian Railway. He was an active member of the labour party and also involved with the school system.

I remember my maternal grandfather was a keen gardener and he had a lovely vegetable path. My grandparents house was close to my school and I spent many a lunchtime there.

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Obituary (translated from Norwegian)

Asbjørn Skogsrud has died at the age of 75. Though he grew up in Biri, he was born in Gjøvik and it was there that he worked for most of his long life. He attended the railway school in 1918 and was then employed as a conductor and later chief conductor for the NSB.

Asbjørn Skogsrud was interested in politics throughout his life. He held a number of significant offices within the Labour Party and was a board member of the Gjøvik Labour Party for a long time.

He was always conscientious and thorough; everything he did was done properly. He had the courage of his convictions and was a man one could not help but listen to. His work was invaluable in the growth and progress of local education.

Asbjørn Skogsrud was a lifetime member of Gjøvik-Lyn [football club]. He was also a singers for a number of years.

With the loss of Asbjørn Skogsrud, a versatile man of honour has passed away. He will be long remembered by all his friends.

Translated from Oppland Arbeiderblad, Monday 13. December 1971