Condolences to Svend Karlsen

[Muscle Mom]

I am starting this thread for Marunde-Muscle members to offer sympathy and support to Svend and Svend Alexander at the recent loss of wife and mother, Lene Karlsen.

Svend,
I'm thinking of you with a very heavy heart and praying for your comfort.
With love,
Gigi

[Lacy]

Thought and prayers are with you Svend and Svend Jr. May god be with you through these times.

[Chris Weaver]

Horrible news....thoughts and prayers are with you

[Patrick McGuffin]

I am deeply sorry for your loss Svend.

[Vincent.Dametta]

Oh wow, I can't believe it. I noticed he switched his default pic on Facebook :(

My condolences, Svend and family. Lene looked like a lovely person. May she rest in peace.

[Paul Neuhaus]

My deepest sympathies and prayers to a champion and your family..........

[Matt Brouse]

Definitely quite sorry to hear this news. Thoughts out to the vikings.

[Chris Daviez]

Iv grown up watching and admiring Svend since i was a kid always wanted to be like him and compete when i grew up. I feel terrible for him and his family. My condolences.

[JEFF VANCO]

Svend, I am so sorry for your tragic loss........

May peace be with you and your family my friend.

God bless

[RubenScheepers]

My condolences to Svend, Alexander and the family...

[Chris Henry]

So incredibly sorry to hear this news. Our thoughts are with you.

[Ian Duggan]

Oh goodness me, that's terrible news.

So sorry to hear that.

[Knelly]

Svend,
I heard this news and I was crushed. I am so sorry for your loss and I am thinking about you and Alexander. Lene was always so good to me, especially in Sweden. She really will be missed.

Kristin

[nathan fitzgerald]

I am very sorry for your loss Svend. Our thoughts are with you and your family.
May she rest in peace.

[matt daly]

I was guttered to find out, so sad. My thoughts and prayers to the family. i feel like crap right now.

[matt daly]

Does anyone know what happened? I have only heard it from this site

[Kevin Cronin]

I'm so sorry to hear this Svend. My condolences to you in what must be a terrible time. Rest in peace Lene.

[Egil Berli-Johnsen]

I admin the biggest norwegian forum of strength, and what Svend told us to tell there should be allright here also, so here goes:

On thursday evening, me, svend and lene talked for hours. Plans for the future, now that she was out of the worst of her depression.

She has been bipolar for the duration of Svend's illness/kidney problems. It was at its worst when me and svend was in surgery in february.... after coming out of the psych ward in april, she has gradually come back to something that resembles her old self...

Friday morning at 0400 she drove me and svend to the airport so that we could fly off to Romania and do the WSMSS Grand Prix in Bucharest. Svend was going to do interviews, and I was doing the events and all the rigging/crew.

Friday afternoon/early evening we both tried to get in contact with our respective ones, after checking in to the hotel.
Lene didn't answer the phone.
Me and Svend tried all the phones, in case she had lost hers... called the car-phone and everything..

In the end Svend told his mom (75 YO) to go up to his house tho see if Lene was there....

Lene was there... dead.

Lene chose to take her own life, but in reality it was the mental illness that killed her!
She found little joy in life now after her worst manic and depressed periods. Now when some partial energy was coming back to her, she probably just had enough energy and determination to end it all... but not enough to keep on fighting.

This weekend was probably "perfect" for her... since Alexander was with her parents, and Svend was away too.

The news hit Svend in Romania like a shot to the heart... I tell you... the big man broke completely, and we cried for like 6 hours until he finally fell asleep...

He slept uneasy and unrestful for 3 hours until he had to catch the 0600 flight to Norway...

Now the Viking will have to be at his lifetime strongest... when he has to bury his wife and keep life going for him and his 9yo son.

the whole strongman community is thinking of him, and he greatly appreciates the thoughts and feelings you guys express! I know that he allready has seen this thread, and see what you write.

Thanks and God bless you!

[Paul Neuhaus]

Thank you for sharing that Egil. My heart breaks for Svend and his son. I will continue praying for them.

[Eric Sawatzky]

Thoughts and prayers to you and your family svend!

Eric

[Margaret Boyle]

I am so sorry for Svend and son Svend Alexander. Such a terrible loss. I met Svend and Lene back in 2002, she was so beautiful, extremely supportive of him and this sport, and a very friendly person to meet.

My thoughts and prayers are with you now.
God Bless!

[JimPierce]

Svend
I am very sorry for your loss
my thoughts and condolences to you and your family

[Brandon Smith]

Svend,

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. My condolences on your loss. Stay strong.

[Dennis Ruygrok]

I am truly sorry for your loss Svend and little Svend Alexander. I know the two of you must be hurting deeply right now. The important thing is to keep her memories strong inside you.
My thoughts and prayers are with you both.

So sorry,

Dennis Ruygrok

[Vincent.Dametta]

Thank you for sharing Egil. My heart breaks for him and his family :(

[matt daly]

That is so sad, my friend has bipolar and he really has a hard time dealing with it. Not that I know Svend personally, but have chated online with him a couple of times and what I know of him, I am assured that he gave his wife lene a wonderful quality of life and what has happened has no reflection on him as a man and husband. Stay strong viking!

[Laurence Shahlaei]

Very sorry to hear about this. Best wishes to Svend and Svend Alexander.

Loz

[corey.clark]

Svend,
so sorry to hear about your loss, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family

[Garrick Daft]

The hardest times in a mans life are opportunities to strengthen his soul.

Find your strength Svend. Lene RIP.

[RubenScheepers]

I am so sorry to hear this.

I wish Svend and his son all the strength in the world to give it a place.

[Bob Toth]

My heart goes out to Svend, his son and their whole family. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.

[Stewart Jordan]

Sincere condolences. The whole strongman community is thinking of you and your son,

[Steve Dohoney]

My condolences.

[Tom Mitchell]

Tragic news, we will be praying accordingly.

[donstrong]

My familys deeps sorrows are with you.

[Tony Moses]

My condolences. The family will be in my prayers.

[Declan Mac Daid]

my thoughts are with you and family Svend at this very sad time.

[Kevin Klavetter]

I met Svend, Lene and his their son in Anaheim at WSM 07. They were very friendly and approachable and of course Svend was his usual "Viking Power" character, very fun.
Our thought are with you Svend and Svend Jr. during this tragic time.

[Ryan Bracewell]

Losing a family member is a hard time for everyone, my thoughts will be with you.

[Ryan Rhodes]

I'm so sorry for yours and your son's loss Svend. I never had the privilege of meeting Lene, but everybody I know always talked about what a wonderful lady she was. I'm just so sorry.

[WesleyInman]

Very sad. My condolences to you and your family.

[Jared Enderton]

My prayers go out to the Karlsen family.

[Mac Smith]

My family's thoughts and prayers go out to you and your fam, Svend...

[JustinLallemand]

Svend, I am sorry for your loss. I've been a fan of yours since I was young and you are a great champion and a great man. Considering this, she must have been a great woman as well. I am sorry...

[JoeMYurkunas]

Very sorry for your loss Svend. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

[Austin Fairchild]

I am very sorry to hear this and I wish everyone well.

[AaRoNSnider]

What sad news.My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Svend.

[Orie Barnett]

We do ALL in his name... Our thought are with you.
ChriststrengthGym

[Al Thompson]

It is always a trajedy when a young person passes on...my prayers are with you and your family.

[dave barron]

This is the saddest news I've read here since Jesse's death. Anyone who knew Lene knew she was something special. What is it about this sport that attracts such brilliant and passionate people who pass too soon?

[Brendan Merchant]

Really tragic news. My thoughts are with you and your family Svend.

[Jim Harbourne]

Very sorry to hear this news. I've never met him but he seems to really appreciate his fans and comes across as a great guy. Very sad.

[Jay Hagadorn]

I am sorry Svend. I am praying for you and your son, that the Lord would give you some peace during this very hard time.

[Jonathan Macfarlane]

I am sorry Svend. I am praying for you and your son, that the Lord would give you some peace during this very hard time.

I echo this.

[Mike Westerling]

Svend,
I am so sorry to hear this terrible news. You and your family will be in my prayers.
Mike

[Steve Reid]

I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your son!

[Mat Maddox]

I am sorry for you loss

My thoughts are with you and your family

[Dana clipper]

I am so sad for your loss. But maybe now she can have the peace with god that she needs. And may he grant you some inner strength for you and your son. My thoughts are with you and yours.

[Lars Gustafsson]

Vänliga Hälsningar från
Lars Gustafssson, Sverige

[SBaier]

I am sorry for your loss. You are definitely in our thoughts!

[Karl Gillingham]

Svend,

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Alexander during this time. Stay strong Viking!


Gillingham Family

[jay lyttle]

i had the honor and pleasure of meeting and talking to svend at art mcdermotts comp in boston in 2001 [?] what a genuine human being, talked to us like we were old friends! so sorry to hear this tragic news, our prayers are with you svend at this sad and tragic time.
jay lyttle and mandy keefer

[Derek Girven]

sorry to hear this, hope svend and the family pull through. stay strong, i will pray for your family.

[Grant Buhr]

Deepest sympathies, Svend. My prayers are with you and your family.

[Tim Moss]

svend was one of the first strongmen i ever saw compete, and he has been my idol ever since. I wish i had could have met lene, she must have been an amazing woman to be svend's valkyrie. Even though i have never met him, i have the viking power inked into my skin, and i wish him all the strength that idea carries with it. Some day you will sit in the one eyed god's hall svend, and see her again. my thoughts are with you

[Mike Landrich]

Svend and family
You have my deepest sympathy. Stay strong.

[Egil Berli-Johnsen]

Me and my wife are leaving soon, for the 7 hour train ride to where the funeral is at.

The service will be tomorrow at 12.30 (GMT+1)

Thanks for all your kind words!

[strongwoman]

Hello Egil,

We are thinking about you, Kikki, Svend, Alexander and the family!

Hugs
Hanne and Ian

PS We have sent flowers. We are so sorry that we will not be able to attend in person.

[David Paaluhi]

your family is in my prayers

[Jeff Flynn]

I'm so sorry Svend,
You have to make it through this for your son, my thoughts go out to you.

[Darin Heltemes]

This is very sad news. Please accept my sincerest condolences for you and your family. May the strength of the Vikings aid you all through this troubled time, Svend.

[Matt Schumann]

awful news, im deeply sorry for your loss.

[svend karlsen]

Thanks to everybody for your kind words. It help us alot in these hard times.
It's been 11 days now, and it's still very hard to wake up and realize it's not a dream.
But it helps to know that so many people care about us.

Svend Viking & Svend Alexander

[Aaron Ramsey]

I am very sorry for your tragic loss!!! My family and I will have you and your family in our prayers.

[Chris Grantano]

Tragic news; Svend, realize the whole of the Strongman community mourns with you. We are one at the time of your loss.

We pray for you and your family.

[Derek Williams]

I am very sorry for your loss Svend. I am praying for you and your son.

Sorry, I am very late on this post - I just now found out about the news. Been very busy and out of touch with the strongman world lately.

Derek