Alvan C. Sandgren Obituary (1929 - 2010)

Thursday, February 18th, 2010 11:00am, Christ Church United of Dracut Details: Service Extra Info It is requested that everyone gather at the church. Interment Details Puritan Lawn Memorial Park DRACUT - Alvan C. Sandgren, 80, of Dracut, died Sunday morning February 14, 2010 in Lahey Clinic, Burlington. He was the beloved husband for 54 years of Nancy E. (Johnson) Sandgren of Dracut. Born in Burlington on March 29, 1929, and raised there by his parents the late Alfred and Astrid (Liljegren) Sandgren. In 1955 he married Nancy Johnson and they lived in Malden for six years and then built their home in Stoneham where they raised their family and resided for 42 years. An honorably discharged veteran, he served his country during World War II as a military police officer in the Army of the United States stationed in Japan. In his early years, Mr. Sandgren worked as a private detective for over 20 years employed by Watts Detective Agency in Boston. Later in his career he became the National Sales Manager for Wintex Corporation in Waltham. This position enabled him to travel the country where he became friends with many of his clients. Al enjoyed spending time in his vegetable garden at his home in Stoneham. He also loved to volunteer his time and talents working alongside his wife Nancy in the garden of the First Congregational Church of Stoneham and later at Christ Church United in Dracut which recently dedicated a church garden to both Al and Nancy for sharing their landscaping talents. At the Stoneham church he shared his gift of masonry constructing stone walls. Also, while a member of the Stoneham church he served many years on the board of deacons as well as on the Book of Remembrance committee. His other talents included refinishing antique furniture and building dollhouses for his granddaughters. His greatest passion was time spent in the company of his wife and best friend Nancy traveling across the country exploring their love of history and gardening. He also cherished time spent in the company of his family. In addition to his beloved wife and best friend; he is survived by two daughters Laurie Peterson and her husband Michael of Newburyport and Wendy Flynn and her husband Kevin of Dracut; four grandchildren Eric and Sarah Peterson and Jillian and Allyson Flynn; one sister Edith Peterson of Harwich; one brother Stanley Sandgren and his wife Anne of Woburn;a brother-in-law Warren Johnson of Marblehead; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Service Details Visitation Location Dracut Funeral Home Address