Göte Alfon Henry Odlander Memorial | Forever In Our Hearts

About
Obituary
Life Timeline
Gallery
Tributes

About

Birthplace: Avesta, Sweden

Service Date: Tue, 20 October 2026, 10:45 AM

Service Location: Camellia Chapel, Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium, Corner and Roads Delhi Rd &, Plassey Rd, North Ryde NSW 2113

Service Information:

Service held in the Camellia Chapel, Macquarie Park Cemetery North Ryde, followed by Burial and refreshments. Pin code for livestreaming is 7611

Obituary

Göte Alfon Henry Odlander
1934/09/19 - 2026/09/28

Beloved husband of Ruth (dec) and father of Eva, Joakim and Cecilia. Grandfather of Rebecka, Sara, Jonathan, Josh and Michael and Great grandfather to nine beautiful children.

Göte had an eventful 92 years on this earth. Born in Avesta, Sweden, 1934, he grew up to attend university and became a school teacher and later a deputy principal.
Married to Ruth in 1962 they had three children.
In 1974 after attending Bible College in London they felt the calling to leave their comfortable jobs and lifestyle, sell their house in Uppsala and travel to Sydney to become missionaries to the migrants in that city.
The work they did amongst migrants eventually became a church in the inner west of Sydney called the Church of Living Waters. They pastored this church until their retirement.

An honourable man loved by many he will be laid to rest next to his wife in Macquarie Park Cemetery on the 20th of October 2026, 10:45am
There will be a link to the video of the service for those unable to attend.
A service in the Camellia Chapel before the burial will be followed by refreshments in the Wallumata Function Centre

Friends and relatives are all welcome to attend. Feel free to leave a tribute on this memorial site.
For those who want to livestream the pincode is 7611.

Please do not feel obliged but should people who are unable to attend wish to send flowers then give full details of the funeral to raysflorist.com.au noting Trevor Lee & Son as Funeral Directors, then they can handle the arrangements. If you prefer to make a donation on Götes behalf, for Dementia Australia you can click the donate button, or for the Swedish missionary organisation you can browse through to www.ljusioster.se to support them.

Life Timeline

19 September 1934

Born

Parents Anna and Alfon Odlander. Göte and his sister Gunvor and brother Lennart.

Göte Alfon Henry Odlander Timeline 1 Photo

1958

Göte with a DKW in the mid to late 1950's

Göte Alfon Henry Odlander Timeline 2 Photo

Göte Alfon Henry Odlander Timeline 3 Photo

28 April 1962

Married

Married to Ruth Asp in Gustav Vasa Lutheran Church, Stockholm. Soon after they moved to Falun where their three children were born. He was an avid musician singing and playing Jazz on the piano as well as becoming organist in the churches they attended.

Göte Alfon Henry Odlander Timeline 4 Photo

1963

Children arrive

First child on the scene is Eva. Photo from Hanna Janssons apartment in Örebro.

Göte Alfon Henry Odlander Timeline 5 Photo

1970

Moved to Uppsala

Moved house to Uppsala and became the organist at Filadelfia Church while still working in the school system.

Göte Alfon Henry Odlander Timeline 6 Photo

1974

Move to Sydney

Sold their house and belongings to fund their calling to become missionaries to the migrants in Sydney.

Göte Alfon Henry Odlander Timeline 7 Photo

1995

Göte Alfon Henry Odlander Timeline 8 Photo

June 2023

Ruth passed away

After a long illness his beloved wife Ruth passed away

September 2024

Birthday

Turned 90 years old and lighting the cake started to become an issue.

Göte Alfon Henry Odlander Timeline 10 Photo

September 2026

A growing family

By the time Göte passed away in September 2026 the extended family had grown to three adult children and their partners, five grandchildren and their partners as well as nine great grandchildren and another on the way.

Göte Alfon Henry Odlander Timeline 11 Photo

Gallery

Some photos from the last few years

A bit of about why Göte came to Australia - use googletranslate!

Göte the musician

Tributes

Våra tankar går till er alla i familjen. Vi tar med oss många fina minnen efter Rut o Göte. Så roligt att få möta dem när vi besökte Sydney. Vårt varma deltagande i sorgen. Varma hälsningar från Agneta o Lalle m familj

Min mor Gunvor var äldre syster till Göte och Lennart. Jag har som liten åkt med Göte i hans DKW och lyssnat till hans pianospel. Min mor, mina bröder och jag bodde en sommar i Götes familjs hus i Falun. Vi har sedan träffats i Sydney vid fem tillfällen mellan 2004 fram till 2018. Första gången jag med min dotter Ida och vi bodde då hos Göte och Ruth. Sedan med min dotter Emma och min son David. De två senaste resorna var med min kära hustru Anja. 92 år. En livsgärning i Guds tjänst, genom arbete som pastor och med fint uppskattat pianospel. För mig fina minnen från min barndom här i Sverige och sedan från mina resor till Sydney. Goda minnen att ha kvar. Tack morbror Göte! Lars Odlander med hustru Anja

I am blessed to have known You and Sister Ruth as we called her. It was between 2004 -2005 when l and my two siblings started attending Church of living water. Being new to Australia and being young, we found a shepherd in you and a family in church of living waters. We needed nurturing and You and Ruth were there. You truly watched over us, my 21st first birthday was celebrated in church because you made it possible, you encouraged me to use my gifts to sing for the Lord. You truly were amazing, in you l saw that God’s love truly transcends all barriers. May your soul rest in eternal peace. To be absent in the body is to be present with Christ.

I grew up in the Church of Living Water since I was a little kid. Pastor Gote always made church feel like home. Whether it was him leading worship through singing and playing beautiful hymns on the piano, delivering sermons from the pulpit or leading Bible study, Pastor Gote made everyone in his congregation feel at home. Him and his wife were of great support to my family and I through a lot of tough times. I’m so grateful to have known such a loving, faithful and gentle soul. He is dearly missed.

We first meet Göte and Rut anf family about 1977. Remember their trust in Gud and committment to serve Him and specially those who went through a difficult time. Their saying. "God will supply " They are now Home with the Master they served så faithful.

I met Mr Odlander in 1977 when I was 12 and didn’t speak much English. He came to pick me up in his VW Kombi to take my sister and I to Newtown Sunday school. He continued to pick us up for Sunday school, Sunday services then youth group meetings at Mr Odlander’s house until I could drive. Mr Odlander taught the Bible and music (Joakim and I would crack up every time he would stick one finger up to indicate change in key), shared Swedish meat balls (so much better than Ikea) and invited me in as a family member. I am a Christian today because of Mr Odlander’s sacrifice, commitment, passion and love. Though we’re grieving on earth, I look forward to meeting up with both Mr and Mrs Odlander in heaven reciting the Word, singing praises in different keys and having Swedish meat balls. Forever grateful, Chang.

I only met Gote a few times and he was warm and friendly on each occasion. Although l didn’t know Gote well, his daughter, Cecilia, is a beautiful friend of mine. I thank God for Gote’s legacy of loving faith and generosity which shines through Cecilia. The smile she has in one of the photos in this tribute, when she was little, is the same warm and welcoming smile she has today which greets friends and strangers alike. Praise God for reaching through generations with life-changing love.

We know Göteand family since 1979,when our family migrated to Australia, and got saved.Göte came to us in Villawood hostel to help us to understand the Swedish bible. Which was easier than listening in English at church. It seems that it was no trouble for him with the visit! He was a good pastor and like a shepherd for us! And became a good friend. We kept the contact through the years until now! We miss him! 1 Thess.4:14 Kjell and Miriam

Dad was always playing the piano and people of all ages loved it! One dog we had used to howl along!! What a blessing which came from my grandparents enabling him to have lessons. He kept playing even while he had dementia; he would play "for the oldies" until he could no longer do it and we would visit and sing for him instead. Thank you for the music dad !

Göte Alfon Henry Odlander Tribute 9 Image by Cecilia Abbott

I am eternally grateful that we met in my first month of coming to Sydney. You and your late wife Ruth received me as a Son and related to me as such! When my family got to Australia in June 1999, the children called you grandpa! They could tell the bond that I shared with you and your family! We are grateful for who you and what has accomplished through you! Hebrews 6:10; 1 Corinthians 15:58. John 11:25-26.

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