OLESEN, Roger Patten 1926-2015

OLESEN, PATTEN, BANDFIELD

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 9/22/2015 at 20:38:16

Roger P. Olesen
Died: Jan. 11, 2015

Services:
Thursday, January 15, 2015 at Locke Funeral Home

Cemetery:
Waterloo Memorial Park Cemetery where there will be military rites by US Navy Honor Guard and Cedar Falls AMVET Post 49

Biography--

Roger Patten Olesen, 88, of Waterloo, died January 11, 2015, at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf.

He was born October 2, 1926, in Waterloo, Iowa, the son of J. Peter and Marjorie Patten Olesen. Roger married Marcella J. Bandfield on September 6, 1947 in Waterloo, where he spent nearly all his life and was involved in a myriad of community activities.

After graduating from East High School in 1944, Roger attended the University of Dubuque and then graduated from the University of Iowa in 1948. He was a member of the ATO Fraternity.

Roger started working for his grandfather’s construction company while in high school. Following graduation he joined the Navy and served in the US Navy Aviation V5 Program. After his time in the service he became a partner in the Jens Olesen Construction Company, eventually becoming president. He also became president of Master Builders of Iowa and served as President of Olesen-Simonsen Realty Company.

Roger was a Downtown Rotary Club Member for 50 years and a past president. He was director of Peoples Bank for 10 years and chairman of the board for 2 years. He also served on the YWCA board for 35 years. Roger received the 2004 Philanthropy Award from the Lutheran Social Services where he had been a member of the board member since 1980. For many years, he also chaired the Operating Engineers’ Health and Welfare Fund.

Roger was a member of the Allen Memorial Hospital Board since 1969, which he chaired for 10 years. In 2012 Allen College awarded Roger a Doctorate of Humane Letters for his community leadership and philanthropy.

In 1993 Roger became a member of the Grout Museum Board where he served as chair for 11 years. He was instrumental in establishing the Sullivan Brothers addition to the museum, honoring Iowa Veterans. In 1999 Roger was inducted into the Junior Achievement Cedar Valley Business Hall of Fame and, in 2007, the East High Hall of Fame.

Roger enjoyed time hunting and fishing in Canada. He held pilot licenses for land, sea, commercial, and instrument flying. He and Marcella loved spending time at Abel Island and boating on the Mississippi with their family and friends, especially his four grandchildren. Since February 2014, Roger and Marcella have been living in Bettendorf near family. Last September, they celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary.

Roger is survived by his wife, Marcella Olesen of Waterloo; two daughters, Anne Olesen of Washington, DC and Jane (James) Richardson of Bettendorf; son James (Debbie) Olesen of Bettendorf; four grandchildren: Thomas Richardson, William (fiancée Sarah Maranda) Richardson, Jesse Swenson, and Ariana Swenson; and two step grandchildren: Chasity (Patrick) Wilkenson, and Amy (Adam) Oltmann, He was preceded in death by his parents.

Source: Locke Funeral Home website