Martin I. Soderlund

Martin Ingmar Soderlund, 88, passed away quietly surrounded by his family at U.Mass Medical Center.  He was born May 3,1934 in Portom, Finland, the son of Nestor Harold and Elvi Naemi Soderlund.

Martin graduated as class president from Worcester Vocational Technical High School in 1954. Following graduation, he served in the Navy. He married his sweetheart, Shirley Ann Duvall in 1956. They were married for 66 years.  He graduated from Northeastern University as an engineer.  He worked at B.T.U. engineering and developed numerous patented inventions.

Martin loved sailing and spending time on Cape Cod with his family, kayaking, biking, fencing and playing the accordion.  He loved traveling with his brother, Frans and Frans’ wife, Linda and his cousin, Gunnel and her husband, Bjarne Hemming from Finland.  He also enjoyed building and renovating older homes with his father, sons and good friend, Frank Stelmach.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his younger brother, Frans.  Surviving in addition to his wife, Shirley Duvall Soderlund are his sons, Erik and Steven, Steven’s wife, Kanokwan, his daughter, Susan and her husband, Nick Perron, sister in-law, Carol Duvall, six grandchildren; Laura Rossi and her husband Todd, Nicole Smith and her husband, Jamie, Kelsy Soderlund, Erika Soderlund, Kenneth Soderlund and Sarina Soderlund and seven great grandchildren; Morgan, Leah and Jillian Grasso-Rossi, Olivia Rossi, Kendall and Annika Smith and Kvian Soderlund.

His funeral service will be on Thursday, August 4, at 10:00 A.M in the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 183 West Main St., Westborough. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery, Westborough. A calling hour will precede the service from 9 to 10 A.M. at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Salvation Army Donation Center, 72 Cambridge St., Worcester, MA 01603

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home.