Carol M. Olson (1944-2020)

OLSON, CORRIE, ENG, KOLARIK

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 5/23/2021 at 17:43:29

Carol Margaret Olson passed into the arms of her Saviour on December 3, 2020, at the age of 75.
Carol was born Huang Shao Han in Hong Kong, China, on December 19, 1944. Her father died of typhoid fever before Carol was born. Her mother's name was Lee Eng. Carol was raised by her grandmother, Liu Shi Hing, until 1955, at which time she was placed in an orphanage which was part of a refugee camp in Hong Kong.
In April, 1956 (at the age of 11 years old), Carol was brought to Clinton, Iowa, into the home and care of F. Charles Corrie and his wife, who acted as her foster parents, with the intent of permanently adopting her. In July of 1957, Charles Corrie lost his wife through death. Because of this, it became difficult to properly care for and raise Carol. As a result, in January of 1958 she was placed into the custody of Donald & Margaret Kolarik, who would act as Carol's appointed guardians.
Carol was later adopted on December 19, 1959, by Donald Kolarik (1899 - 1976) and Margaret Miller Kolarik (1895 - 1991), who had joined in marriage in 1943. It was at this adoption that she was given her legal American maiden name of Carol Margaret Kolarik.
Carol had 4 brothers and sisters who had all been adopted during the Great Depression by Carol's mother, Margaret Miller, before she married Donald Kolarik. Margaret (Peggy) and her brother Ernest (Ernie) were adopted in December of 1934. Marie Miller was adopted in January of 1936. Edison (Ed) was adopted in August of 1936. They were all grown and married by the time Carol was adopted in 1959.
Carol graduated from Clinton High School in 1965.
After high school, Carol attended cosmetology school where she became a licensed beautician.
Carol married Jimmy Lee Runquist on Sept 24, 1966. Together, they had three children; June Lynn Runquist, born June 2, 1967, Troy Allen Runquist, born January 25, 1970, and Renee Ann Runquist, born March 11, 1971. Jim passed away in 1991, and Renee passed away in 1998.
Carol was a homemaker when the children were young. She also kept up and used her beautician's license throughout the years, as well as working at G. Baker Distributing for a time. Her last place of employment was working in the kitchen at Sarah Harding retirement home for 15 years.
She married Gary Olson on October 1, 2005. She was happy to have found love and companionship again after the passing of her first husband.
Carol was a born again Christian and enjoyed attending church with her family on a regular basis throughout her life. She took pleasure in bowling, and was on various bowling leagues for several years. She also enjoyed fishing, crocheting and painting. She was a wonderful cook, and loved cooking for others, as well as for her family. She was also a very giving person, and would often respond to the needs of other people. She was well loved by all those who knew her. She had a warm personality, and could often be found engaged in conversation with complete strangers.
Carol is survived by her husband, Gary Olson; two children; June (Scott) Hibbard of Sterling, Illinois, and Troy (Celesta) Runquist of Mount Enterprise, Texas; 8 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; 3 step great grandchildren; and a brother, Edison Wainwright Miller, of Irvine, California.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Runquist; daughter, Renee Runquist; parents, Donald and Margaret Kolarik, and siblings; Margaret (Peggy) Shumake, Marie Rockrohr, and Ernest (Ernie) Miller.
Funeral Services will be 11:00 am, Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at the Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes and Crematory. Burial will be in the Clinton Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 9:30 am until the service time at the funeral home. Online condolences may be expressed by visiting her obituary at www.snellzornig.com.