Start  The Emigration Dalsland Stories Rännelanda
Rännelanda
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Growing up I heard many stories about my father’s family in Sweden. |
 Färgelanda, Rännelanda, Dalsland, Sweden
Growing up I heard many stories about my father’s family in Sweden. At home we had a plate painted with a stuga named Trollebo, but no information as to the significance of it. I knew my grandfather (farfar) came from Rännelanda, Dalsland, Sweden in 1912 and married his first cousin here in the USA. Communication with family in Sweden seemed to end before my grandmother passed away in 1983. Unfortunately she knew some of the history, but it was not passed on.
It was in 1993 when I became interested in my Swedish ancestry. I quizzed my father and mother about their families in Sweden, found letters written by a woman in Sweden who may have been related. I did some research on the Internet and found the Mellerud Museum in Mellerud, Sweden. They did genealogy research so I wrote a letter to the museum and later received information from Anneli Andersson about my father’s family in Rännelanda, Dalsland, Sweden. This got my husband and I excited. In 1994 we went to Sweden, found Anneli and started to look for the homes and farms of my family’s ancestry.
In 2002 we had a family reunion at Trollebo, my grandfather’s home. I met many cousins I didn’t know I had. We walked the roads, into the forest, visited the school and church together, holding hands and being so grateful for the reunion. I have visited Rännelanda Kyrka where many relatives were baptized, married and buried. As I knelt at the altar and lit a candle in memory of my family, tears ran down my face. I felt their presence and was so happy; it felt like I was home.
The people in Sweden are so gracious; willing to give directions, have you in for a cup of coffee even when they don’t know you.
Dalsland has the most lakes in its area than any other part of Sweden. Two thirds of Dalsland are covered with tall, deep, green forests and full of beautiful sounds from nature. It’s peaceful, relaxing, beautiful and full of history and things to do. We have been to Sweden seven times since then and will return again this year. Dalsland is my home away from home.
Karen Hammarberg
Rockford, Illinois USA
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