Philip J. Olsen 1938 - 2002

SURBER, OLSEN, GRIES

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/16/2019 at 20:01:46

Sioux City Journal
18 September 2002

ONAWA, Iowa -- Philip J. Olsen, 64, of Onawa died Sunday, Sept. 15, 2002, at his residence following a three-year struggle with cancer.

Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at First Christian Church in Onawa, with the Rev. Michael Cahill officiating. Burial will be in Onawa Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Rush Family Care Service in Onawa.

Mr. Olsen was born Sept. 9, 1938, to Melvin and Mildred (Surber) Olsen, in Soldier, Iowa. He moved as a small boy to Onawa, where he graduated from Onawa High School in 1956. He attended Cincinnati Bible College in Cincinnati, Ohio, from 1956 to 1959. He then served as a pastor of Castana Community Church in Castana, Iowa, from 1959 to 1962 while attending Nebraska Christian College in Norfolk, Neb. He received his bachelor of arts ministerial degree in May 1963. He was ordained at Onawa Christian Church in June 1963.

He had served churches in Indianola, McCook and Lexington, Neb., Bellingham, Wash., Morningside Church of Christ in Sioux City and was instrumental in beginning Tri-State Christian Church in South Sioux City, where he served for 14 years. He retired from Tri-State in September 2000 after 41 years in the ministry.

He married Lois Gries in Onawa on June 16, 1957. Following his retirement the couple moved back to Onawa in May 2001 and made their home.

He was a member of First Christian Church in Onawa. His hobbies were fishing and woodworking along with enjoying his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Lois; a daughter and her husband, Claudia and David Last of Tacoma, Wash.; three sons and their wives, Mark and Beth of Columbus, Neb., and David and Lisa and Roger and Cheryl, all of Como, Colo.; a sister and her husband, Connie and Bill Lautenbach of Lake Havasu, Ariz.; his mother-in-law, Laura Gries of Mapleton, Iowa; two brothers-in-law and their wives, Al and Betty of Sioux City, and Lt. Col. Dennis and Debbie of San Antonio, Texas; a sister-in-law, Jeanetta Gries of Amboy, Ill.; and seven grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his father-in-law, Clarence Gries; and a brother-in-law, Franklin Gries.