Alfred Leonard Olson

OLSON, PETERSON, HEINS, YAUSLIN, GORDON, KNOCK, ELLIS, THOMPSON, KOBRIGER, HIRSCH, ROE, BARNHARDT

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 12/11/2010 at 16:00:10

SOURCE: West Clermont Lutheran Church, Clermont, Iowa Funeral bulletin
Contributor: Dale Ellis (nephew)

Alfred "Leonard" Olson, son of Alfred John and Amelia (Peterson) Olson, was born April 2, 1926 at Clermont, Iowa on the home place in Fayette County near the Turkey River. He graduated from Clermont High School. Leonard served in the United States Army during WWII from 1944 to 1947 and was stationed in Okinawa.

On June 26,1948 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa Leonard married Darlene Ada Heins and six children were born to this union. They later divorced. Leonard married Betty (Yauslin)Gordon in 1973. Leonard was employed as a lineman with Interstate Power Company for 40+ years, retiring in 1987. He lived about 30 years in the Waucoma, Iowa area and 20 years in the West Union, Iowa area. He became a resident of the Good Samaritan Center in West Union October of 2003. Leonard loved to go fishing, playing cards, travel, tell Norwegian jokes, and most of all, spend time with his children and grandchildren.

Leonard's death occurred May 4, 2004 at the Good Samaritan Center. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty, on April 26, 2004; his infant son, Joseph Edward Olson on February 6, 1953; his parents; two brothers, Olaf Olson and Joseph Olson and three sisters Agnes Ellis, Irene Thompson, and Gladys Kobriger.

Those left to cherish his memory are his first wife, Darlene Olson of New Hampton, Iowa and their children, Wayne and Mary Olson of Cresco, Iowa, Wanda and Larry Knock of New Hampton, Michael and Diane Olson of Charles City, Iowa, Mark and Mary Olson of Denver, Iowa, and Scott and Jackie Olson of Lime Springs, Iowa; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Bessie Hirsch of Marshfield, Wisconsin and Julia Roe Barnhardt of Waukon, Iowa; his good friend, Colleen Hilgerson of West Union,many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at the West Clermont Lutheran Church in Clermont, Iowa on May 7, 2004 at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Paul Hjelle officiating. The organist was Lois Dummermuth and the soloist was Art Amundson. Pallbearers were Scott Olson, Larry Knock, James Olson, David Knock, Chuck Shipton, and Spencer Teisinger. Interment was in God's Acres Cemetery, Clermont, Iowa. The Burnham-Wood Funeral Home in West Union, Iowa handled the arrangements.