FERN ELAINE OLSON

ELGIN - Fern Elaine Olson, 99, a lifetime resident of Elgin, peacefully passed on to be with her Lord on July 26, 2022. She was born May 2, 1923, in Elgin, to Clifford and Lillian (nee Quade) Olson. Fern's grandparents helped raise her when her parents divorced when she was 3 years old. She saw her grandfather lose everything during the 1929 stock market crash, and vowed she would never let that happen to her. Fern graduated from Elgin HS in 1941. At 17, she landed a job at an insurance agency in downtown Elgin. She was determined to make her own way in the world, not relying on someone else to take care of her. She worked hard and eventually owned that insurance agency. She was definitely ahead of her time, a strong woman business owner in a male-dominated field in the 1960's. She continued to work until finally retiring at 70. Fern was a member of the Methodist Church of Elgin. She had a positive attitude, and always had something nice to say. She took care of herself, including weekly beauty salon appointments, and also cared for her family when the need arose. She cared for her mother who lived to 100, and also her Aunt Verna who lived a long life, as well. She doted on her nieces and nephews, and treated them as if they were her own children. Fern liked to keep active, enjoying ice skating at Lord's Park, rolling skating, and bowling. She was an long-time bowling league member, and was quite good, winning 1st place at a league tournament in 1973. Fern was preceded in death by her grandparents; parents; brother, Ronald Olson; aunt, Verna Quade; and loving companion of many years, Richard Siemer. She is survived by her nieces, Penny (Tom) Sowers, Bonnie Mundinger, and Dawn (Rich) Wigstone; nephews, Brett (Kim) Olson and Randy (Carol Adams) Olson; and sister-in-law, Darlene (nee Purkey) Dubis. Visitation will be 5-8pm, Friday, Aug. 5th, and 10am until funeral service at 11am, Saturday, Aug. 6th, at Symonds-Madison Funeral Home, 305 Park St., Elgin. Michael Murschel will be officiating. Interment to follow at Bluff City Cemetery, 945 Bluff City Blvd., Elgin. For more information, call 847-741-1128 or visit www.symondsmadison.com.