Olson, Harold Thomas (1922-1968)

OLSON, WICKS, IDSO, NEFF, JOHNSON

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:00

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, Friday, November 1, 1968

Motel blaze victim dies in Des Moines

Harold (Jack) Olson, 46, a lifelong resident of the Williams community, died early this morning at the Veterans Hospital in Des Moines where he had been transferred from the Hamilton County hospital after having suffered smoke inhalation in a motel blaze at Blairsburg.

Mr. Olson had been rescued by Blairsburg firemen from a smoldering motel unit at the B and B Truck-Stop Motel, Wednesday evening, was revived by mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and brought by the Webster City rescue truck to Hamilton county hospital.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Foster Funeral home with the Rev. M. Stanley Ballard officiating and with burial in the Blairsburg cemetery.

Harold Thomas Olson, son of Albert and Mabel [Wicks] Olson, was born July 22, 1922 on a farm near Williams. He was reared and educated in the Williams community.

He served in the U.S. armed forces during World War II, being located in the European War theater. Following his discharge from the service, he returned to the Williams area where he was employed as a truck driver.

He is survived by one daughter, Jayne of Des Moines; his father and step-mother, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Olson of Williams; one brother and one sister, Donald Olson of Williams and Mrs. Ray (Loretta) Idso, Daytona Beach, Fla., two nieces and one nephew; two step-sisters, Miss Agnes Neff and Mrs. Lee (Carolyn) Johnson.

He was preceded in death by his mother in 1949.

Mr. Olson was a member of the American Legion.