Reverend David E. Svenson passed away Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in his sleep
after a long battle with old age. David was born August 19, 1940, in New York City,
the youngest of four children born to the late Brigadiers Sven Eric Svenson and Alice
Marie (Bodvar) Svenson. As he was growing up, the family served churches in
Brooklyn, Jamestown, and Manhattan, NY, and Providence, RI. David was
predeceased by his sister Joanne and his brother Carl. He is survived by his brother
Robert and the widow of his brother Carl, Barbara Svenson.
David married Linda (Heyl) Svenson, the love of his life, on October 19, 1963, at
Trinity Baptist Church in Brockton, MA, and they enjoyed 61 years together.
Together, they had four children—he was an amazing father to all of them, and they
are grateful to have had him as their father: Lisa Svenson and her spouse Mark
Thompson of Amherst, NH; David Eric Svenson, who predeceased him; Kirsten
Svenson and her spouse Jeffery Carter of Salem, NY; and Bethany Svenson of
Nashua, NH. They have six grandchildren, who lovingly called him "Morfar": Rachel
Rumohr, Claudia Henningsen, Carlos Sebastian Henningsen, and Thalia Henningsen
of Nashua, NH; Tyler Carter of Royal Oak, MI; and Annika Carter of Macon, GA.
David served in the US Army from 1959 to 1962, serving in Germany during the
construction of the Berlin Wall and the Cuban Missile Crisis. He obtained a BA in
Philosophy from St. Anselm's College in 1972, and he received his MDiv from Bangor
Theological Seminary in 1979.
Pastor Dave served in ministry with care, compassion, kindness, warmth, love, and
his signature sense of humor. He and the family were blessed to be welcomed into
the following faith communities: Orrington Corner United Methodist Church,
Orrington, ME (1967-1969); Mont Vernon Congregational Church, Mont Vernon, NH
(1969-1974); Sunapee UMC, Sunapee, NH; Georges Mills UMC, Georges Mills, NH;
and West Springfield UMC, Springfield, NH (1974-1979); Durrell Memorial UMC,
Bethlehem, NH, and Trinity UMC, Whitefield, NH (1979-1985); Moultonboro UMC,
Moultonboro, NH (1985-1992); Main Street UMC, Nashua, NH (1992-2000); Mid-
Maine District Superintendent (2000-2008); Retired (2008); Interim Pastor at
Moultonboro UMC; Interim Pastor at Main Street UMC; Interim Pastor at Peru UMC,
Peru, NY; Interim Pastor at North Salem UMC, North Salem, NH; and Interim Pastor
at Arlington Street UMC, Nashua, NH.
David served as a volunteer firefighter on the Mont Vernon, Sunapee, Bethlehem,
and Moultonboro fire departments. He had a passion for reading, crosswords, and
Caribbean cruises with his beloved Linda.
A memorial service for David will be held on June 28, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Main
Street United Methodist Church, Nashua, NH. Memorial donations may be made to Main Street United Methodist Church or to the Salvation Army.
