Ivar was born on June 29th, 1925 in Rockford, Illinois. He went to West High School and later worked at a tool and die company and married to Barbara Ohlson with whom Ivar had a baby boy before enlisting into the army on December 13, 1943. After training he went overseas with B company 101st infantry regiment, 26th infantry division. Arriving in France in September 1944, Ivar and the rest of the division quickly entered combat. Fighting against some of the toughest German eastern veteran divisions. On December 2nd, 1944 during the battle for the city of Sarre Union Ivar and the rest of the 1st battalion together with a company of tanks from the 761st tank battalion had the mission of clearing out a wooded area next to the city. When they entered the woods, the tankers told the GI's they would not enter the forest due to the possibility of mines. So the battalion entered the woods without tank support. After advancing through the woods the battalion came in contact with 5 german tanks supported by infantry and artillery. All hell broke loose. During this action Ivar would be killed in action.