Warren Wendell Olson

OLSON, Warren Wendell
Warren "Oley" Olson passed away peacefully at the Spokane Hospice
House on Tuesday, March 22. He was born to Edwin James and Sena Olson in Merna, Nebraska, on January 19, 1921, the youngest of four children. Warren graduated from Merna High School in 1938. He was a veteran of World War II, having entered the Army Air Corps in 1942. He was based in Wichita Falls, TX, and in Alliance, NE, before being deployed overseas to Sheppard Air Field in England and later to France. Warren rose to the grade of sergeant in the 434th Troop Carrier Group, which was cited for battle honors in June 1944 for their role in spearheading the Allied invasion of the Normandy Coast. He was discharged from the Army Air Corps at Fort Lewis, WA, in 1945. Warren married his high school sweetheart, Lois Julia Kolbo of Lodi and Callaway, NE, on December 23, 1942, and they were married 54 years. Upon leaving the service, they farmed near Merna, and then made a home in Cozad, NE for their family of three children-"Dean, Nadine, and Mel. Moving west in 1957, the family settled in Greenacres, WA. Warren was baptized at the Greenacres Christian Church, where he served as a deacon for several years. In 1979, he and his wife retired to a small acreage on California Creek in Mica, WA. Warren always worked hard to support his family and over the years he was employed by the Armour Co. (Cozad, NE), Keystone Frame & Manufacturing Co. (Spokane), and Quicki Box Co. (Greenacres). He was head custodian at North Pines Jr. High (Spokane Valley) for 13 years, and the students there dedicated their "Cub Tracks" yearbook to him when he retired in 1984. He spent his retirement years rebuilding small engines at his home in Mica. Warren was an avid gardener, loved all animals, and appreciated the beauties and bounties of Nature. Camping and huckleberry picking were common summer activities. Warren played the saxophone as a young man and, making sure that all his children had the benefit of music lessons, he spent many happy hours listening to their daily practice sessions. His sense of humor, his storytelling talents, and his perseverance will be missed by his family and friends. Warren was preceded in death by his wife Lois in 1996, his parents Edwin and Sena Olson, his sisters Mrs. Merton (Opal) Thompson of Broken Bow, NE and Mrs. John (Vera Marten) Siewick of Seattle, and his brother Floyd of Broken Bow, NE. He is survived by his three children, Mel Olson (Spokane), Nadine Olson (Stillwater, OK), Dean Olson and his wife Angela (Sultan, WA), and by three grandchildren, Leif Olson and his wife Rita, Erika and her husband Johan Cronholm, and Peter Olson, all of Snohomish, WA. Graveside services will be held on Friday, March 24, at 3:00 p.m. at the Fairview Cemetery in Rockford, WA., directed by SCHANZENBACH FUNERAL HOME of Fairfield.