Friends remember Rand Sjögren as a quiet leader, a loving father and a family man who was devoted to his faith, his music and his lifelong ministry with The Salvation Army. Maj. Randall Sjögren, died March 22 at Loyola University Hospital after an 18-month battle with esophageal cancer. The Lombard resident was 57.
A native of St. Paul, MN, Sjögren was born on Dec. 16, 1953, just five minutes after the birth of his identical twin brother, Russell, with whom he shared an indelible bond. The boys attended the Salvation Army St. Paul Temple Corps, which nourished his early interest in service to others and his love for music. Sjögren and his brother began studying music at Mankato State College, Minn., but both left when they felt called to become officers (ministers) in The Salvation Army, Northern Division. While an officer, Sjogren returned to college and earned a degree in business management.
He continued his education at the College for Officer Training, Chicago, as a member of the Soldiers of the Cross, and remained a flag bearer for this group for the next 35 years. While a cadet, he met his future wife, Deborah Garrington, whose parents were on faculty at the college. The two were married on June 16, 1976, just a year before his brother Russell married Garrington's sister Jan.
Sjögren and his wife served in nearly every branch of The Salvation Army ministry in corps across the Central Territory and on the divisional staff of the Midland, Northern and Wisconsin and Upper Michigan divisions. He held several appointments at Central Territorial Headquarters and, in 2008, was appointed to International Headquarters as international auditor. His next ministry was at the national headquarters, where he served as national financial secretary for business administration. In 2009, when he learned he had cancer, he was transferred back to the Central Territory. He retired in September 2010.
Those who worked with Sjögren say that in his calm and quiet way, he brought encouragement and stability to Salvationists on every continent. He was a gifted preacher and musician, playing the coronet and alto horn with many Salvation Army music groups, including its Chicago Staff Band.
He is preceded in death by his granddaughter, Abigail Seiler; and by his parents, Bertil and Betty Sjögren. He is survived by his beloved wife, Maj. Deborah Sjögren (nee Garrington); daughters Evie (Dr. Kevin) Polsley, Erika (Bryan) Seiler, granddaughters Ellie Polsley and baby Seiler, due in August. He is also survived by twin brother Maj. Russell (Jan) Sjögren; three other brothers, James (Petra), Lt. Col. Daniel (Lt.Col. Rebecca) and Douglas (Barb) Sjören; his sister, Karen (Russ) Marshinke, his niece Emily (Ed) Jordan; nephew Caleb (Susan) Sjögren; and a host of other nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Sjögren has donated his body to Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine for education and research, as a way of giving back to the health system for the care he received from Loyola's physicians and staff.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Randall Sjögren Music Fund to benefit music programs at the Oakbrook Terrace Corps
