Eugene Peter Oleson

Eugene Peter Oleson, 82, passed away peacefully at Arborwood Lodge, Wisconsin Rapids, WI on February 17, 2022 after 10 years with Parkinson's Disease. Eugene was born September 14, 1939 to Clarence and Julie (Morzewski) Oleson at the family home on Hetze Road in the Town of Sigel. Eugene attended Pleasant View Grade School and vocational school for two years in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. He served in the army and was stationed in Germany from 1963 to 1965. On August 27, 1971 he married Shirley (Ladick) Plawman and they celebrated 50 years of marriage in 2021.
In his younger years, he was a logger and worked for Clem Brostowitz and Frank Swetz sawmills. After his service years, he drove dump truck for Ladick-Schill trucking. Then he took a course in welding at Midstate Technical College. In 1966, he started at Nepco Paper Mill (later Georgia Pacific and Domtar) retiring as a head fireman in 2005 after 38 years of service.
He also owned a dairy farm purchased in 1968, while owning two other farms from 1974 to 1994. Eugene and his dad built the home on the dairy farm and he later built several out buildings. After his retirement, he restored old farm machinery such as manure spreaders, silo fillers, and tractors (primarily Farmall and one John Deere). Every piece had to be original right down to the last bolt.
He had a great love for horses, especially Belgian Draft horses and raised many over his lifetime. His vacations were always to the horse sales in Waverly and Neillsville every spring and fall. He also loved attending the steam engine shows at Edgar and Baraboo, as well as other Wisconsin shows.
Eugene is survived by:
8 children:
Sherri (Jim) Stempa, Wisconsin Rapids, WI; Shelley (Kent) Nywall, Fort Collins, CO; Brian Oleson, Vesper, WI; Allen Plawman, Vesper, WI; Wayne (Penny) Plawman, Vesper, WI; Dennis (Julie) Plawman, Vesper, WI; Melanie (Gene) Bauer, Wisconsin Rapids, WI; and Dawn (Fred) Armagost, Wisconsin Rapids, WI.
24 grandchildren:
Sydnie Strub, Tyson Stempa, Eva and Ila Nywall, Kylie Rutta, Jesse Plawman, Teresa Smith, Pamela (Dillon) Neuzil, Jeffrey (Katrina) Maleport, Veronica (Ryan) Plawman, Greg (Sara) Plawman, Brenda (Steve) Onsager, Eric Plawman, Troy (Katie) Plawman, Chantel Kuhn, Casey (Curt) Mitchell, Joshua (Jodi) Plawman, Jackie (Ryan) Gaupp, Benjamin (Vicki) Oleson, Jessica (Brent) Gaupp, Jamie (Brian) Gilbert, Jeremy (Tonya) Armagost, Jennifer (Westley) Froeba, Justin (Elizabeth) Armagost
50 great grandchildren:
twins Rebekah (Daniel) Hinich and Daniel Zant, Annabelle and Chance Neuzil, Khloe and Corbyn Maleport, Nylah Fencil, Marshall (Kaylee), Kaiden, Jace and James Plawman, Azailia Skoglund, Lillian and Skylar Onsager, Mallorie and Wyatt Plawman, twins Annyn and Reagan Drollinger, Caydence, Ariel and Xavier Plawman, Summer and Autumn Johns, Zachary, Bowden and Jenna Mitchell, Canon, Jadyn, and Presten Plawman, Matthew and Noah Gaupp, Abigail, Brady and Cecilia Oleson, Olivia, Sofia and Michael Gaupp, Roose, twins Bairn and Bennett Gilbert, Aiden, Deegan and Kelton Armagost, Kailea, Gracie, Lailah, Calen and Rogan Ott, Naomi and Arlo Froeba
1 great great grandson Grayson Johns
Sisters: Beverly Wolf, Janice Steidl and Donna Livernash and sister-in-law Geraldine Oleson
Preceded in death by daughter Brenda; parents Clarence and Julia Oleson; brother Wallace Oleson; brother-in-law's John Wolf, Richard Steidl, Francis Livernash and Lawrence Ladick; sister-in-law's Sylvia Vellios and Lucille (Brehm) Wenker; his wife's parents George and Lillian Ladick; grandson Matthew Oleson.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Sigel, with Father Nathan officiating. Burial will follow at Holy Rosary Catholic Church cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 am to 11 am at the church and on Friday, February 25, 2022 from 4 pm to 8 pm at Feldner/Ritchay Funeral Home, Nekoosa, WI.
The family thanks the nurses and staff at Aspirus Hospital, Wisconsin Rapids Health Center, Arborwood Lodge and Heartland Hospice for their kind, gentle and excellent care of Eugene at their facilities. Special thanks are given to Dawn Armagost for her help, individual attention and special care for Eugene, which brought comfort to him in his last days. And many thanks to Jo Waters at Arborwood Lodge for taking care of Eugene as Grandpa and his niece Barb Wolf for the wonderful farm photo. The photo of his home brought contentment and happiness to him when he could not be there. God bless all who touched Eugene's life in a positive way.