OLESON, James A. 1922 - 1999

OLESON, TABB, PETERSEN, GROFF, WESTENDORF, BETTS, RAPP

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 4/30/2014 at 23:57:50

JAMES A. OLESON

CLEAR LAKE –James A. Oleson, of 310 N. Ninth St., passed away Tuesday (July 13, 1999) at his home. Memorial services will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, July 17, at the First Congregational Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Thomas Healey officiating and Military Honors by the Clear Lake V.F.W. Inurnment will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the Clear Lake Cemetery.

The family will greet friends one hour prior to services on Saturday at the church. Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St., Clear Lake, is in charge of arrangements.

James was born Oct. 29, 1922, at Mason City, the son of Joseph and Lucy Maud (Tabb) Oleson. James graduated Northwood High School in 1940, then attended Mason City Junior College and Drake University.

James served in the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. He spent time in England, France and Germany in World War II.

James married Betty Petersen in Clear Lake on Aug. 31, 1950. She preceded him in death on May 10, 1992.

James worked for Peterson Construction of Clear Lake for 19 years. After that he was employed by the City of Clear Lake for 11 years as Clear Lake’s first building inspector. He was cited in 1985 by the Iowa Association of Building Officials as a “walking encyclopedia.” At that time he was the only person in Iowa who had earned certification in different categories and one of less than 10 people in the country with that certification. He was certified as a building inspector, mechanical inspector, plumbing inspector and plan examiner.

He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Clear Lake. He was also a 53-year member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, a charter member of Habitat for Humanity in Mason City, member of Clear Lake V.F.W. and the Iowa Association of Building Officials. He also enjoyed music and dancing.

James is survived by his sister, Shirley Groff, of Austin, Minn.; sister-in-law, Juana Kay Petersen, of West Des Moines; special friend, Eleanor Brekke, of Clear lake; three nieces, Janet Westendorf and her husband, John, of Austin, Minn.; Kathy Rapp and her husband, John, of West Des Moines, and Debbie Betts of Overland Park, Kan.; one nephew, Thomas Groff and his wife Cindy, of Conger, Minn.; six great-nieces and nephews, Jeffrey and James Westendorf; Megan, Allison, and Kelly Rapp and Christine Betts.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife, Betty.

Transcriber’s Note – James A. Oleson was born October 29, 1922, died July 13, 1999 and was buried in the Clear Lake Cemetery, Section A Row 9.