Sven Bertil Svensén, 86, of Newtown, the beloved husband of Verna (Carlson) Svensén, died peacefully, with his family holding his hands, on February 3 at Danbury Hospital. He was born in New Britain, August 15, 1929, and was the son of the late Linda (Anderson) and Sven Brunholf Svensén, who emigrated from Mjöbäck and Gunnarsjö, Sweden.

Mr Svensén grew up as a member of a large Swedish clan of carpenters and fishermen, and treasured his memories of the time they all lived under one roof, had parties, and played music with their families on Black Rock Avenue in New Britain.

His family later moved to Devon where he spent many years sailing and fishing on the Sound. He graduated from Milford High School in 1947 and Bryant College in 1952 with a BS in accounting. He served from 1950 to 1952 in the Naval Reserves and as staff sergeant in the Air Force 1952-56, in Nevada and France during the Korean War. He worked at Raybestos in Stratford, Sperry Products in Danbury, and then for more than 30 years at Churchill Business Forms in Newtown, as controller.

He loved his family most of all, his Swedish heritage, and fishing on Taunton Lake with his children and grandchildren in whom he instilled a love of the sport. He enjoyed hunting, trivia, history, numbers, traveling, and being on the water. He was a longtime member of the Taunton Lake Rod and Gun Club. He valued his time in the Sea Scouts as a boy, and reached top rank of Quartermaster. He was a member of the Masonic Ansantawae Lodge No 89, Milford.

He will be sadly missed by his loving wife of 57 years, Verna; his three children and spouses, Susan and Jim Borchert of Cornish, N.H., Cynthia and Glenn Griffin of Meriden, N.H., and Erik and Carla Svensén of Lakeville, Minn.; his grandchildren Anna, Julia, John, and Laura Borchert, Lily (Borchert), and her husband Austin Powell, Benjamin Griffin, and Anders, Grace, and Niklas Svensén; and several brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews. His brother Nils Svensén and his sister Ethel Sullivan predeceased Mr Svensén.

A memorial service will be celebrated at the United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Road, Newtown, Saturday, March 12, at 11:30 am, after a wreath laying ceremony at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Main Street where his name is inscribed. There will be no calling hours.

For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to The Masonic Charity Foundation of Connecticut, 22 Masonic Avenue, Wallingford CT 06492-3048 or at www.firstgiving.com; or the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati OH 45250-0301 or www.dav.org.