Olson, Irma M. (Robey) 1911-2003

OLSON, HENDERSON, ROBEY, OHLOFF, HELLER, WOODMANSEE, POWELL

Posted By: SGF (email)
Date: 4/29/2003 at 03:09:40

Irma M, Olson, 91, of Waukon, died Monday, February 24, 2003, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon, following a brief illness. Funeral services were held Friday, February 28 at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in Waterville, with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon assisted with arrangements.

Irma Marie was born September 4, 1911, on the rural Monona farm of her parents, Ray and Hazel (Henderson) Robey. She was baptized at Rossville Presbyterian Church, attended the rural "Crossroads" Elementary School, graduated from Waterville High School in 1928, and attended Waukon Junior College.

On November 5, 1930, she was married to Otto Olson by Rev. Van Nice at his home in Waukon. She worked as a secretary for the J.E. O'Brien Law Office and for Dr. Frank Norden, optometrist, in Waukon for four years and then as a legal secretary in West Union for another four years.

In the mid 1950's, she moved to California where she was again a legal secretary for two years before starting to work as a secretary for an atomic energy plant near San Francisco from 1957-1970. From 1970-1978, she spent summers in Waukon and then returned permanently.

She has been a resident of Good Samaritan Center since 1999. Irma was a member of Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church and its Ladies Aid and Circle. She liked growing up on the farm and enjoyed getting the cows in from the pasture. Her father had a good library and she often read stories to her younger siblings. She liked to play cards, embroider, and crochet and made many afghans for family members. She also enjoyed traveling, especially through the west on her trips back and forth from California to Waukon.

Survivors include two daughters, Shirley (Bill) Ohloff of Castalia and Carol Heller of Readlyn, Iowa; seven grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Otto; a son-in-law, Martin Heller; a grandson, Tom Ohloff, a brother, Dale Robey; and two sisters, Coila Woodmansee and Joy Powell. Casketbearers were Dean, Steve, Dan, Marlyn, and Glen Ohloff, Kevin Smith, and Brad Williams.

©Waukon Standard 2003
-source: Waukon Standard March 5, 2003