"I remember him from long before he became famous, he drove horses and garbage for one of the district's originals here, he was a nice guy," says John Boberg in Svärdsjö
Lasse Berghagen's maternal grandparents came from the Svärdsjö area. In 1939, his parents bought Fjärsmansgården, a farm that Lasse and his wife Eva owned until a few years ago. About his connection to the town, he has previously said:
"I usually say 'Stockholm in my heart, but the soul in Svärdsjö'. The childhood years I had here are unforgettable.
Over the years, many people in Svärdsjö have met him in the village. Among other things, he was involved when the part-time fire brigade in the area was threatened with closure. He also held much appreciated sing-along evenings at the gamelgården to which the audience flocked in their thousands.
The news of Lasse Berghagen's passing on Thursday was received with sadness in the village, but the memories are bright.
"He was fantastic, we remember him fondly," says Ulla Andersson, Svärdsjö.