Rolf C. OLNESS M.D.

OLNESS, M.D., Rolf C. Born February 5, 1944 to Clarence and LuBell Olness in Williston, North Dakota, passed away on October 24, 2016 in Sonoma. Following his graduation from Williston High School in 1962, Rolf attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota and later the University of Arizona. He spent two years in the medical school at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ultimately graduating from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Rolf then went on to start his residency in Surgery at Queens Hospital in Honolulu, where he met his future wife, LeeJay. Rolf served his country, drafted in to the Navy in 1972. He was assigned to duty at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Yokosuka, Japan. It was while he was stationed there that he and LeeJay married in Yokohama. Following his discharge from the Navy, Rolf and LeeJay settled in Sonoma where their daughter, Kara Lee, was born in 1974. Rolf absolutely adored his daughter Kara, and they shared a special love of rock and roll music together, attending countless concerts throughout the years. He also loved to dance, whether it was tap-dancing -- which he learned as a kid -- Lambada which he learned in his 50s -- or his all-time favorite - cutting the rug with the Jitter Bug. Before going into practice with Dr. Newman in 1975, and ultimately going into private practice at his office on Perkins St. where he practiced family medicine for 40 years, Rolf worked as doctor in the ER at Sonoma Valley Hospital (SVH). In 2011, he received the honor of being voted SVH's "Physician of the Year," based on his outstanding compassion for, and his quality and delivery of medical care to, SVH patients and their families. In 2013, he had downsized his practice when he joined MDVIP so that he could spend more time with his family and pursue some of his favorite pastimes. Nonetheless, earlier this year, Rolf took on the responsibility of Medical Director of the Skilled Nursing Facility at SVH. Rolf was a tremendously giving person. In the 1990s he was involved in the "Lions in Sight" program with the late Dr. Wayne Cannon, traveling abroad providing and fitting eyeglasses for victims of the Bosnian War and other impoverished areas. He was also actively involved in the Kiwanis Club and volunteered his time for many years working with local high school athletes, assisting Dr. Robert Geiger Sr. in giving free physicals to football players at Sonoma Valley High School, and being present on the sidelines of many games. An avid sports fan, Rolf played the game of golf his entire life. There was nothing he enjoyed more than spending a beautiful day at AT&T Park, rooting for the Giants. Rolf was also a diehard 49ers fan and enjoyed fantasy football. But his favorite time of the year was the beginning of duck season when he'd go up to the Circle 6 Club in Butte County with his longtime duck hunting cronies and Labrador dogs. Rolf also loved to travel; even years after their separation he and LeeJay frequently traveled to Europe, Hawaii and Mexico together, including Cabo San Lucas with family. Rolf was also extremely proud of his Norwegian and Scottish heritage and traveled to both Norway and Scotland throughout the years visiting relatives. A particularly special haunt that held an enormous lifetime spot in his heart was his cottage "Dunroamin" in Wasagaming, Manitoba, Canada, where he spent summers growing up, and many summers in later years enjoying the breathtaking beauty of the place with family and friends. Rolf is survived by his daughter Kara Reyes (Ricardo), and grandsons Joaquin and Benicio of Sonoma; his sister Edith Claire Olness Ferguson of Reno, Nevada; nephew Robert Ferguson of Prescott Valley, Arizona; niece Heather Scheffer of Indianola, Iowa; his former wife LeeJay Tunkis Olness of Sonoma; numerous MacMaster and Olness cousins; and his two best hunting buddies, Sadie and Maggie. A memorial service for Dr. Olness will be held at Hanna Boys Center on Saturday, November 12, at 1:30 p.m. The family requests donations to be made to the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation, Hanna Boys Center, Sonoma Valley High -Athletic Program, and Sonoma Junior Dragons Football.