Lars Erik Wåhlin, a longtime resident of Boulder and Gilpin Counties, passed away June 2, 2015, at TRU Hospice Care Center in Louisville, CO.
He was born August 31, 1929 in Malmö, Sweden, to Erik Karl Kristian and Margit Cecilia (Jönsson) Wåhlin. Growing up in Sweden he attended several schools until earning a PhD in Physics from the Nobel Institute in Stockholm. Lars also served his country as a member of the Swedish Navy.
Coming to the United States, in 1964 Lars founded, owned, and operated Colutron Research Corporation. He designed and manufactured particle accelerator and ion beam equipment. Lars worked on many projects for NASA and other agencies. He was passionate about “atoms.” Sometimes when Lars was deep in thought and was asked: “What are you thinking about?” the answer was “atoms”! He retired and closed Colutron in September of 2013.
On December 15, 1979, he married Margaret Palmer in Virginia City, Nevada.
Lars was a ham radio operator, an interest he began when very young and continued while in the Navy. He enjoyed cross country skiing. In 2004 he participated in a 59-mile cross-country race in his native Sweden.
Lars is survived by his wife Margaret.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, July 2, at the Ryssby Church, 9000 N. 63rd Street, Longmont, Colorado. Interment will be at Ryssby Cemetery. Visit www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com to share condolences.
