Glencoe Historical Society
at the
Eklund History Center & Garden

Sally Eklund's nephew speaks to assembled guests preceding luncheon.
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More the 40 people gathered in the Eklund Garden, 377 Park Ave., on May 21st to honor the woman who all her life kept alive the dream of a calm, beautiful spot in the middle of downtown Glencoe—and will be honored to see it carried out after her death.

It was a memorial service for Sara C. “Sally” Eklund, benefactor of the Glencoe Historical Society to whom she donated the garden named in her honor and the two buildings on the property, one of which houses the Eklund History Center and Museum. The morning event featured friends and family who lovingly remembered Sally, principle among them her nephew Carl William Eklund and his family, wife Lois and children Siri and Rustan Eklund. The children were given Swedish names, Lois Eklund recalled, after “Aunt Sally” sent along a list of approved names and told her to choose among them.

A swamp oak tree was planted in memory of both Sally and her brother, Carl Hilding Eklund. The word “eklund” in Swedish means “dweller near the oak grove.”

Members of the Eklund family celebrate Sara (Sally) Eklund's life and gift to the GHS.
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The memorial party featured memories from those who had known Sally all their life and those who had known Sally in her later years, when she donated the property. Her nephew and his family, a cousin from New York all spoke as did Jack Moore, who as a young man had worked for the Eklunds and credited them with making him go back when he dropped out of college. After college he became an archeologist and taught archeology for 27 years before he retired to Door County Wisconsin.

“This was a special lady,” said Carl William Eklund. “She led a long and productive life,” referring to her many years working in the Eklund Furniture and Interior Design Shop, which occupied the property from 1917 through 2000. “In 97 years, she saw two World Wars, Korea and Viet Name. She went from the era of the horse and buggy to the man on the moon.” Carl William Eklund remembered that Sally was devoted to her parents, Carl and Esther Eklund, and to her Swedish heritage, including coffee.

Sally Eklund's nephew, board members, and family friend interact.
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“They began work (in the furniture workshop) at 8 a.m., worked to 10 a.m.—and then it was coffee time. At lunch there was coffee and at 4 p.m. they broke for coffee, often for coffee in the garden” he recalled.

Sally’s life was one of hard work and calm perseverance. She was never upset, even when construction in the building next door caused a severe fire in the workshop (now the Eklund History Center).

Fluent in Swedish, French and English, her life was filled with the love of art. “She knew her way around the Merchandise Mart,” loved to travel and visited the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal in India and capitals of Europe. And for each trip, she went off with a small, black bag, he said.

GHS board members view Eklund family exhibit.
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Sally loved Glencoe, having lived here through her school days until the last three years of her life (when she moved to a nursing facility in Northbrook), Carl William Eklund said, “She is saying thank you to the community when she asked that we maintain this garden. When we walk through the garden we should feel a quiet grace.” The family distributed her ashes at the base of the oak trees following the comments.

Lunch, prepared by John Carothers of the Glencoe Historical Society Board. Tours of the museum, which includes two exhibits, one on the Eklund family and the other on the workshop of the Eklund Furniture and Design Shop, were taken. A plaque honoring the Eklund family, giving the history of the family and their work in Glencoe, has been placed on the brick entryway into the garden.

Below are additional pictures from the gathering.

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Comments

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2. On June 27, 2005 11:57 AM, Nello Lucchesi said:

   This press release was published in an article titled, “Family, friends remember Sally Eklund” published in the June 2, 2005 issue of the Glencoe News.