VALENTINE HOGSTROM Obituary

Hogstrom, Dr. Valentine E. Born November 22, 1921 to General Eugene Hogstrom and Lydia (nee Nikitin), in Helsinki, Finland, passed away May 10, 2015 at his home in the Sauganash neighborhood of Chicago. After his father died in 1926, he and his mother moved to Serbia to be closer to her brother who fled Russia during the 1917 Revolution. There he attended the Cadet Corps, a Russian military academy. During WWII, he attended medical school at the University of Vienna. Due to an unfortunate set of circumstances, he was taken prisoner by the Soviets when the Russian army arrived in Vienna. He spent two and a half years in Soviet prison camps until his cousin, Mielikki Ivalo and her husband, Asko, a diplomat, were able to negotiate his release back to Finland. He completed his medical degree, and he and his mother moved to Chicago where he accepted a position as an intern with Swedish Covenant Hospital in 1952. He worked in the pathology lab until his English skills improved. He became an attending physician in 1954 and was later certified by the Board of Family Medicine. He practiced family medicine until he retired at the age of 81, delivering the babies of the babies he delivered, including Mielikki's grandson and great-grandson. He spoke fluently in Russian, Serbian, and German, switching easily into any language, as well as some French and knowledge of Latin. Also an avid skier, he taught his family, friends, and colleagues to ski. Among his favorite ski areas were Snowmass and Steamboat Springs, Colorado. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Natalie (nee Gordeyev); his sons, Dr. Laurence (who joined him in the practice in 1987) (Sonia Claudio) and Alexander (Terra), and daughter, Irene (Mark Bragen); grandchildren, Joshua, Kristina, and Valentina; step-grandchildren, Caleb and Fairlight; great-grandchildren; and many loved ones in the United States and Europe. His colorful stories during the dinner hour are already missed. Funeral Service Thursday 10:00 a.m. at Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, 1121 N. Leavitt St., Chicago. Interment Elmwood Cemetery. Visitation Wednesday 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Muzyka & Son Funeral Home, 5776 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago with Panachyda (wake service) at 7:00 p.m. For info 773-545-3800 or visit Valentine's memorial at www.muzykafuneralhome.com.