Nils Henry Theodore Cederberg

Nils Henry Theodore Cederberg died peacefully in his sleep on May 14, 2026, at the age of 94. To his grandchildren, he was affectionately known as "Farfar,” which means father's father in Swedish. Nils was born in Chicago, IL on March 15, 1932 to Svea (Ljungblad) and Henry Theodore Cederberg at Lutheran Deaconess Hospital. The hospital eventually closed and ultimately became part of Swedish Covenant Hospital, where Nils was later employed in fund raising and served on the Board of Directors.

Nils married Barbara Joan Anderson in 1952 when they were both 20 years old and together they had four sons: Jeffrey (Wennie), Douglas (Gale), Glenn (Diane), and Mark (Christine) Cederberg. Nils had a total of 8 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

Nils grew up in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago, as well as in Sweden. Nils was proud of his Swedish heritage and even lived there during his early years where he learned to speak Swedish! Nils graduated from Senn High School and North Park Academy. Nils also took seminary courses at Trinity College.

Nils proudly served in the U.S. Army in the 1950s where he spent time in France during the Korean War and received the Good Conduct Medal / National Defense Service Medal. He was honorably discharged in 1956.

Nils was an avid Christian, raised first in the Evangelical Free Church and then the Evangelical Covenant Church, founding a handful of churches throughout his life, as well as serving on boards and in numerous capacities.

Nils was a salesman most of his life in the Sanitary Supply / Cleaning & Maintenance industry. He worked for Clarke Floor Machines, owned Ramrod Distributors, co-founded and co-owned Hawk Enterprises and worked for the ISSA industry association.

After his first wife, Barbara, passed in 1978, after 25 years of marriage, Nils was introduced to and ultimately married Raynette (Reed) Cederberg. Nils gained two step-children with this marriage, Carol (Mark) Lamb and Jim (Dawn) Eaton. He also gained another 5 step-grandchildren. Nils and Raynette were married for 25 years, living in Northbrook, Chicago, Wheaton, NW Indiana and Spring Grove, IL before Raynette’s passing.

Nils married his third wife and current widow, Sylvia (Hansen) Cederberg in 2005. They lived for a number of years in Huntley, IL and then retirement homes in Northbrook, IL and Lake Geneva, WI. They were married for twenty years at the time of Nils’ passing.

Nils will always be remembered as a strong Christian, a jokester, a “snazzy dresser,” a great husband, loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend to many. After living a full and joy-filled life, Nils was ready to be called home by his Heavenly Father and we rejoice in knowing he is in Heaven today!

A funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 11:00 AM CST, at Covenant Living of Northbrook, Main Chapel, 2625 Techny Road, Northbrook, IL 60062 with a light luncheon to follow. Private family burial TBD. The family asks that any gifts given in memory of Nils be donated in his name to Lydia Home Association, a Christian, non-profit organization that has been serving children in Chicago since 1916, a place where Nils served on the Board for several years (https://www.lydiahome.org/donate).

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