- Date Of Birth: September 16, 1972
- Date Of Death: August 1, 2021
- State: Indiana
Niels Gregor Svendsen, 48, passed away Sunday, August 1st, at IU Health in Indianapolis. He had undergone a successful multivisceral organ transplant two weeks prior, but sepsis intervened and ended his life.
Niels was born and grew up in Paris, IL, the second youngest of Robert and Carol Svendsen’s eight children. Each morning before school, in all kinds of weather, his job was to take care of the farm animals and often ride the family horse Lady Blaze to check the fence around the perimeter of their farm. During the summer, he and his youngest sister, Heidi, were the main crew on their father’s sailboat on Lake Muskegon. Niels never lost the strong work ethic he acquired growing up—which he put to good use by remodeling, fixing things, and making the surroundings more beautiful in his home and yard. But he balanced that with his belief in “chillaxing” and enjoying every moment of life.
Niels earned his BS in Engineering and his MS in Ag Engineering from the U of Illinois. For the last 20 years he worked for the Army Corps of Engineers. Niels specialized in water and soil conservation, and loved his work. He lived his life to the fullest and enjoyed backpacking in the Sierra Nevada, diving into big waves on Lake Michigan, and playing tennis with his kids. He cherished and often spoke with pride about his children. With more time, he would have fulfilled his lifelong dream of hiking in Patagonia.
The family is grateful to all the doctors and nurses who have cared for Niels over the years, especially the organ transplant team at IU Health, and to blood and organ donors everywhere.
