Lowell Amdahl

LOWELL AMDAHL, 90
Lowell Dean Amdahl, 90, of Santa Clarita, passed away on Friday December 16, 2016 at Sunrise Assisted Living at Sterling Canyon in Santa Clarita.
He was born on February 28th, 1926 in Flandreau, South Dakota to Anton and Ingeborg Amdahl and married Iva Lenore Heggen on June 25th, 1948.
Lowell is survived by wife Iva, daughter Dawn Olds of Santa Clarita, son Paul (Lani) of Monument, CO and daughter Joan Royer (Bill) of Oroville, CA along with eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces. He is preceded in death by his father Anton and mother Ingeborg, son Robert Amdahl, brothers’ Orin Amdahl, Gene Amdahl and Alton Amdahl and sister Evelyn Olson.
Lowell worked on the family farm in South Dakota before joining the U.S. Army. He then attended South Dakota State University where he received his B.S. degree in Physics. He continued his education at the University of Kansas where he then earned his Master’s Degree in Physics. While in Kansas, Lowell also worked in a box factory and the printing department at the local newspaper.
His first job after receiving his Master’s Degree was with IBM in New York City. He then moved his family to Redondo Beach in California where he started work at Ramo Wooldridge (later known as TRW). The family then relocated to Northridge (where Lowell and Iva lived in same beautiful home for 55 years) and Lowell later became president of a new consulting firm -- Digital Science Consultants. His next career path included starting Amdahl Associates which later became Compata, Inc. with his final employment being with Computer Science Corporation (CSC). Lowell also taught computer classes at night at both UCLA and USC and he then served as Technical Editor for Datamation magazine for 15 years.
Lowell very much enjoyed travelling both prior to and following his retirement in 1991. These trips included: An adventure to Europe in 1970 with Iva and teenage children Paul, Joan and Rob; a trip with Iva and friends to Norway in 1973; and an RV road trip to Alaska, Canada and South Dakota with Iva, grandson Jason and some RV and square dancing friends in 1983. Lowell and Iva then participated in group tours to Italy, The Holy Land and Greece in 1988, an Orient Cruise in 1995 and trip to Eastern Europe in 2000.
Lowell enjoyed time with friends and family RVing, square dancing, playing golf and tennis and playing a variety of card games and working on puzzles. Lowell was also very much a man of faith and was very involved with the First Lutheran Church of Northridge (now Lifehouse Church).
All who knew Lowell would agree that he had an amazing knack for humorous wit and was a man of the highest integrity while remaining a humble gentleman.
A Church Service will be held Thursday, January 12th, 2016, at 11:00 am at Lifehouse Church, 18355 Roscoe Blvd., Northridge, CA. 91325. Following the Church Service, the family invites everyone to join them for a reception at the church. A Graveside Military Service will follow at Oakwood Cemetery at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lowell’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association, a non-profit organization, online (“Donation Tab”) or by phone at 1-800-272-3900.