Robert Olson 13 Jan. 1940 - 16 Oct 2005

OLSON, HITE, DISTERHOFT, LACINA, GRIGGS, HAACK

Posted By: Netha M Meyer (email)
Date: 10/19/2005 at 21:37:17

Robert "Buff" Olson, 65, of Marengo, died Sunday evening, Oct. 16, 2005, in Marengo Memorial Hospital from complications of a stroke. Services: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, First Lutheran Church, rural Conroy, by the Rev. Jackie Tjarks. Burial: First Lutheran Church Cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Kloster Funeral Home in Marengo. A memorial fund has been established. Survivors include his wife, Linda; four daughters, Josie Olson, at home, Holly Disterhoft and husband Duane of Marengo, Linette Lacina of Blairstown and Sherri Olson of Marengo; a son, Lance Olson of Marengo; a stepson, Seth Griggs of Grinnell; eight grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; a stepgreat-grandchild; and his mother, Renee Olson of Marengo. He was preceded in death by his father, and a brother, Larry Olson. Robert Louis Olson was born Jan. 13, 1940, in Marengo, Iowa, the son of Louis and Renee Hite Olson. He received his education in the Marengo schools and graduated from Marengo High School in 1958. Robert married Linda Haack on March 27, 1987, at First Lutheran Church, Conroy. Robert was hired as a night patrol officer on Feb. 5, 1968. He became chief of police on Nov. 4, 1968, and served in that capacity until retiring in January 1995. At the time of his retirement, Bob was the longest serving police chief in the state of Iowa. He was past president of the Iowa Trappers Association and a founding member of the Iowa Long Rifles. He was active with the East Central Iowa Peace Officers Association for many years. Bob was a member of the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, National Rifle Association, American Mountainmen, National Sheriffs Association, the National and Iowa Trappers Association and Iowa Police Chiefs Association. Bob was very active in retirement. He served as mayor of Marengo for two years. He and his wife, Linda, attended muzzle loading shoots and rendezvous throughout the Midwest. He also continued his life long passion of gunsmithing. Bob was a longtime nationally-known muzzle loading rifle builder, and at times there was a four- to five-year waiting list of customers for his beautiful Hawken rifles, pistols and trade guns. Bob was also a student of American History and had immense knowledge of the American Indian and American Westward Expansion. He served for many years on the Board of Directors for the Museum of the Fur Trade in Chadron, Neb., where he regularly visited to research black powder guns and western history. Bob believed in "living" life. He was a loving and caring individual, touching so many lives over the years. He was never too busy to stop and visit, whether or not he knew you, and would offer a helping hand whenever needed. He will be missed.

klosterfuneralhome.com
Cedar Rapids Gazette
18 October 2005
Edition: F, Page: 5B
Record Number: 1794448