OLSON, Mark Allen 1949-1969

OLSON, MCKENZIE, COFFMAN

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 5/10/2011 at 15:46:15

Mark Allen Olson

Born: 1949
Died: May 17, 1969
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#1:

A double fatality crash
occurred late Saturday near
St. Ansgar, Iowa.

Killed were Mark A. Olson, 20, of Osage, and Raymond Starbuck, 19, of Orchard.

Officers said the car drivn by Olson went out of control on a curve and struck a utility pole.

Two others passengers in the car were hospitalized in Osage in serious condition. They were Paul Danzow, 19, and Nancy Valasek, 16, both of Osage.

[Des Moines Register, Monday, May 19, 1969]

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#2:

A one-car accident on Highway 218 one mile north of St. Ansgar claimed the lives of Mark A. Olson, 20, of Osage and Raymond Starbuck, 19, of Orchard Saturday, May 17, at about 9 p.m.

Two other passengers in the 1969 auto, Paul Danzow, 19, of Osage and Nancy Valasek, 16, of Osage were taken to the Mitchell County Memorial hospital for treatment.

Miss Valasek was listed in serious condition with severe face lacerations, and Danzow also in
serious condition with a fractured leg and face lacerations.

Olson, driver of the car, was attempting to make a left curve when he lost control if the vehicle and it went off the right side of the highway. The car continued south for an estimated 521 feet & struck a power pole. The car, a total loss, was owned by Francis Helfner of Osage. He was not in the car at the time of the mishap.

Deputy Sheriff Curt Younker and Iowa Highway patrolman Dana Rima of Charles City investigated.

Olson was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Olson of Osage, and Starbuck was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Starbuck, Orchard. Both young men were graduates of the Osage Community high school.

[St. Ansgar Enterprise, Thursday, May 22, 1969]

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#3:

OSAGE — Separate funeral services have been set for Tuesday for two young 0sage area men killed in a one-car accident about 9 p.m. Saturday north of St. Ansgar on Hwy 218.

Killed in the accident were Mark Olson, 20, driver of the car and son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Olson of Osage, and Raymond L. Starbuck, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Starbuck of Orchard.

Two passengers in the car were in satisfactory and good condition Monday morning in the Mitchell County Memorial Hospital here.

Paul Danzow, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Al Danzow of Osage, was listed in satisfactory condition with a broken right leg and severe scalp and facial lacerations. His date, Nancy Valasek, 16, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Valasek of Osage was reported in good condition with severe facial laccerations and shock.

According to the Mitchell County sheriff's report, the southbound car failed to make a curve on the highway about 1¼ miles north of St. Ansgar, went off the road, snapped a 16 inch power pole and then rolled over on it's top.

The car, owned by Franklin Helfter of rural Osage, was a total loss. Helfter and Olson had exchanged cars so that Helfter could use Olson's 1969 model car to take his date to the jurior-senior prom in Osage Saturday night.

All four of the passengers were thrown from the car, according to Deputy Curtis Younker, and the two young men died instantly with broken necks.

Funeral services for Starbuck, a 1968 graduate of Osage High School, will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Champion Funeral Home. Burial will be at the Oak Wood Cemetery at Floyd.

Survivors include his parents; one brother Dennis at home; five sisters: Mrs. George (Darlene) Herman of Charles City and Barbara, Carolyn, Kathryn and Karen, all at home; his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Mabel Starbuck of Floyd, and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Key of Charles City.

Funeral services for Olson will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the First Congregational Church with burial in the Osage Cemetery. The Champion Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Olson, a graduate of Osage High School in 1967 and in a trade school in Omaha, is survived by his parents and two sisters: Mrs. Harold (Patricia) Schultz of Barstow, California, and Mrs. Lyle (Sharon) Bighley of St. Paul, Minnesota.

[Waterloo Courier, Monday, May 19, 1969]

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Parents:
Alfred T. Olson (1910-1997)
Olive Helen (McKenzie) Olson (1916-1997)

Grandparents:
Charles McKenzie and Olive (Coffman) McKenzie (Mother's Parents)

Siblings:
Sharon and Patricia Olson.

Burial:
Osage City Cemetery, Osage, Mitchell Co., Iowa

Tombstone Photo on GPP
 

Mitchell Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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