Virgil M. Olson 1917-1989

OLSON EVENSON KEUTER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 1/26/2010 at 17:50:56

Onawa Democrat
30 March 1989

Virgil M. Olson, the son of Olius B and Bertha Evenson Olson, was born on June 29, 1917 at Soldier, Iowa. He died on March 17, 1989 at Eventide Lutheran Home in Denison, Iowa at the age of 71 years.

Virgil grew up on a farm near Soldier, Iowa and attended a rural school there. After his education, he worked on various farms in the area. On May 7, 1941, he entered the Army, serving his country in Papuan, East Indies, New Guinea and South Pacific, earning four Bronze Stars. He received his honorable discharge on August 16, 1945. On March 23, 1946, he and Esther Laubscher Keuter of Dunlap were united in marriage at the Zion Lutheran Church in Denison by Rev. C.W. Schmidt. They lived in the Dunlap area until moving to the Ute, Iowa area to begin a career in farming. From Ute, they moved to Soldier, where they farmed for 18 years before retiring in 1977. At that time they moved to rural Denison and in 1982 moved to Denison. Virgil entered Eventide Lutheran Home in Denison in March 1986.

Virgil was baptized as an infant and Conformed in 1931 at the Soldier Lutheran Church in Soldier, Iowa where he was a life- long member. He was also a member of the Soldier American Legion Post Number 462.

Preceding him in death were his parents and two brothers; Russell Olson and Lyle Olson.

Surviving include his wife Esther of Denison; his children; Marie and her husband Bill Seufert of Denison; John William Keuter and his wife Phyllis of Creston, Iowa and Joyce Olson of Shelby, Iowa. Also surviving are eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one brother, Raymond Olson of Dow City, Iowa and three sisters; Edith Heistand and Ethel Hartwig, both of Dunlap, Iowa and Irene Pedersen of Denison, Iowa.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, March 20, 1989 at Soldier Lutheran Church at Soldier, Iowa. Pastor Larry Sydow officiated at the service with interment in the Soldier Lutheran Cemetery. Mrs. Gilma Gibbs was organist for Mrs. EveVonne Muff as soloist. Selections were “How Great Thou Art” and “On Eagle’s Wings.”

Soldier American Legion Post number 462 conducted Military Services.

Serving as pallbearers were Robert Rank, Allen Hartwig, Tom Heistand, Ralph Olson, Rolly Laubscher and Paul Laubscher.