Gene Lavere Olson

Gene Lavere Olson, fast pitch softball legend, longtime Hoffman LaRoche foreman, and enthusiastic-but-impatient camper, passed away peacefully at the age of 85. Born on a farm south of Boxholm on August 22, 1940, Gene was one of eight siblings raised by Rudolph and Anna Olson, who clearly believed in building character through sibling rivalry.
As a kid, Gene worked the family farm and planted corn using checkrow planting-a method so meticulous it made modern GPS farming look lazy. He injured his elbow playing Babe Ruth Baseball in Boxholm, which ended his overhand throwing career but launched his underhand softball superstardom. Turns out, Gene could sling a softball like a magician flinging spells.
He started pitching in 1958 for the Boxholm Swedes and quickly became the guy every team wanted. He played for teams in Boone, Ames, Des Moines, and Clear Lake, including the Boone Merchants, Ames Palmas Restaurant, and the Des Moines Bombers. He wrapped up his career at age 57 with over 700 pitching wins, earning a spot in the Des Moines Softball Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Iowa Fastpitch Hall of Fame in 1997. Basically, if Iowa had a Mount Rushmore of softball, Gene would be on it-probably wearing a ball cap and smirking.
Gene worked 42 years at Hoffman LaRoche, much of it as a plant foreman, where he was known for his work ethic, leadership, and ability to fix anything with duct tape and a good story.
After retirement, Gene decided to take up camping with his wife Linda-even though she wasn't much of a camper. Undeterred, Gene went all-in and bought a motor home with dreams of traveling to California and camping out on the street in front of Lori and Kevin's Los Angeles home. Setup and teardown, however, tested his famously short patience. One legendary incident at Ledges State Park involved Gene manning the sewage shutoff valve while Linda held the hose. When Linda told him to turn it off, Gene misheard and turned it on. The result? Linda ankle-deep in sewage and a spill that probably earned them a permanent spot on the campground's "Do Not Invite Back" list.
When camping didn't quite pan out as the retirement dream, Gene pivoted to fixing up and selling lawn tractors-mostly John Deere, of course. It wouldn't be uncommon to find a dozen green machines lined up in his shed, which the family affectionately called "the tunnel." He wasn't the best mechanic, but he got the job done well enough to send each one down the road with a fresh coat of optimism and maybe a few quirks.
Gene loved his family fiercely and made his four children-Lori, Donovan, Brent, and Mark-the center of his and Linda's life. Weekend trips to fast pitch softball tournaments doubled as mini family vacations. There wasn't a lot of money, but there was a lot of love-and a skillet and toaster. Linda would whip up meals for the whole family and even feed other members of the team, turning parking lots into pop-up diners. Gene proudly attended his kids' youth sports activities, cheering them on with the same intensity he brought to the pitcher's mound.
When his children left home, Gene remained their biggest supporter. He was always ready to lend a helping hand-especially to Lori, helping her chase her dreams through moves to Dallas, Chicago, and Hollywood. Whether hauling furniture, offering advice, or just showing up, Gene was the kind of dad who never stopped showing up.
Gene's grandchildren were the highlight of his life. He always wanted to know how they were doing and lit up whenever he heard good news about them. When they were in sports, Gene was always there-folding chair in hand-ready to cheer them on from the sidelines. He'd drag Linda along, racing from Boone to Jefferson to catch basketball games, and braving cold, rainy weather at track meets without complaint (well, maybe a little). He especially loved baseball and was a fixture at his grandson's games at Memorial Park in Boone, where he could be found in his usual spot, offering encouragement, commentary, and maybe a few unsolicited coaching tips.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Rudy and Anna; and his siblings, Jeanette, Bill, JoAnn, Dean, Bob, and Janice.
Left to cherish his memory are his devoted wife, Linda; his children, Lori (Kevin), Donovan (Sue), Brent, and Mark (Kelly); his sister, Judy (Gail); five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
The family will host a celebration of Gene's life on Friday, October 24th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Boone Senior Citizens Center, 1112 Story Street, Boone, Iowa. Memorials are suggested to be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N Michigan Ave, Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601, or online at https://www.alz.org/.
Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home, 515-432-4550.