In Bograngen, a small gem in the northern part of Torsby Municipality, live Jeanette and Marco Kühner
– two energetic souls with a passion for nature, engines, and people’s well-being.
On their small farm, just a stone’s throw from the village shop, they’ve built a life full of activity, animals, and dreams. Jeanette, with her infectious smile, always has a thousand things going on and just as many ideas she wants to bring to life. She speaks enthusiastically about her latest passion, massage and yoga, or more precisely: sheep yoga.
– I hold yoga sessions out in the pasture together with our 16 sheep. It’s absolutely magical. They come up, nudge, and sniff curiously while we stretch out on our yoga mats. It’s soothing for both body and soul; the nature, the grass, the sheep. It’s something you really have to experience, she says with a laugh.
Beautiful, peaceful and family-friendly
Jeanette speaks almost fluent Swedish. She has been careful to speak as much as possible and to learn the language since moving to Bograngen in 2016. At that time, she moved here with her then-husband and daughter. The move was from southern Germany, from a small town called Sinsheim, near Heidelberg.
– We had heard that it would be beautiful, peaceful, and family-friendly here. We bought a small cabin village, Klockaregården, and decided to try living here for two years, says Jeanette.
Entrepreneurship, change, and a new beginning in Värmland
Her then-husband kept working in Germany and commuted for two years. When they later decided to stay, they took over the company Snowscooter Quad Safari Sweden from a Dutch couple. A business offering guided tours on snowmobiles and quad bikes. The cabin village was doing well until COVID came knocking, making it impossible for tourists to come. They then decided to sell the cabin village but continue running Quad Safari.
But life changes. In 2020, Jeanette and her then-husband went their separate ways, but both chose to stay in Bograngen.
– We both really enjoyed living here, so even though we separated, neither of us wanted to move back to Germany. We had built a life here, says Jeanette.
After separating from her husband, Jeanette reconnected with her old love, Marco, whom she had dated on and off during her youth. Marco, who had also just ended a long-term relationship, was still living in his hometown of Nordheim. The spark was reignited, and soon Marco and his son Aaron packed their bags and moved to Värmland.
– Aaron has been attending junior high school in Sysslebäck but will start upper secondary school at Stjerneskolan this autumn. He really enjoys living in Sweden and has made many new friends here, says Marco.
Physiotherapist in Germany and Torsby
In Germany, Jeanette trained as a physiotherapist, a profession she has now returned to.
– It took seven months to have my German license converted to a Swedish one. There was a lot of paperwork, and you also have to pass approved tests in the Swedish language. Once everything was completed, I started working as a physiotherapist at the health center in Likenäs and at Torsby Hospital.
As soon as Marco moved here, he got a job as a mechanic at Motorshoppen in Sysslebäck. He speaks a lot of English at work, so Swedish is still a bit challenging for him. At home, they mostly speak German, as they think it’s important for the children to be bilingual and they get Swedish “for free” at school and preschool. That’s also why it’s been a bit harder for Marco to learn the language.
– Swedish is still a challenge, but I’m working on it. It’s important to know the language, says Marco. Jeanette agrees:
– The language is the key to becoming part of society, but also taking part in markets, local heritage days, and community life. There’s so much beauty here.
Family life, entrepreneurship and dreams
In 2023, Jeanette and Marco welcomed their daughter, Ida-Lis, their long-awaited child together. That same year, Marco took over Quad Safari, and now he guides tourists on snowmobiles in the winter and quad bikes in the summer.
– I can’t make it full-time with that, so I do some other work on the side like gardening, forestry, and clearing. I also bake pizzas at the restaurant Nedergårdens Vilt och Natur in Sysslebäck sometimes, says Marco.
– The best pizza in the world, Jeanette adds with a laugh.
Marco joins the Medskogen hunting team for practice shooting every Saturday. His son Aaron is also working on getting his hunting license. Jeanette’s daughter Anni attends the local School of Culture and goes downhill skiing with the Branäs Ski Club. They think all the local associations are great, a really good way to become part of the community.
Jeanette and Marco love their life on the farm in Bograngen and have no plans to move back to Germany.
– We don’t have much family left in Germany, and we don’t want to live in a city. We’ll probably stay here with all our animals. We’re really happy here. The only thing I miss is spätzle, Jeanette says with a laugh. It’s a dough made from eggs and flour that you roll into long ‘strings’ and boil. It’s a bit like spaghetti. We make it at home sometimes when we start feeling nostalgic.
– There are many dreams for the future. One of mine is to convert an old ambulance into a mobile massage studio. That way, I could travel around the municipality and give massages to people who need it but can’t make it here. I already do some home visits, but it would be easier if I could bring my ‘massage room’ with me. I also want to work a bit more with my business, Finnskogen Healthcare, says Jeanette.
When it comes to tips and advice for newcomers, they both agree that learning the language is essential, if you’re moving here from another country.
– Try to learn the language, it makes everything so much easier. And find a job, or see what kind of needs there are if you want to start your own business. Dare to go for it!
Here you can read more about Jeanette and Marco’s business:
English 
Svenska