Olson, Willard (1928 - 2016)

OLSON, CHIPMAN, HARMON, NELSON, LUCKE, PETERSON, O’BRION, LEGVOLD, SCHONBERGER

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 3/18/2016 at 14:11:50

Name of deceased: Willard Judine Olson

Aged: 87 yrs, 5 mo, 6 days

Residence: Harlan, IA

Born: Sep. 24, 1928; Thor, IA

Died: March 1, 2016; Harlan, IA

Funeral services: Saturday, March 5, 2016; Immanuel Lutheran Church, Harlan, IA; burial was in the Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, IA

Survived by: Wife of 65 years, Margaret, of Harlan, IA; daughters, Rebecca (spouse, James) Chipman and Kristine Olson-Harmon; son, Craig (spouse, Judith) Olson, all of Harlan, IA; sister, Laurine Nelson of Minneapolis, MN; brother, Elmer (spouse, Shirley) Olson of Eagle Grove, IA; grandchildren, Eric (spoue, Hope) Chipman of Harlan, IA, David (spouse, Kristi) Chipman of Big Rapids, MI, Anna Harmon of Des Moines, IA, Jacob Harmon of Ames, IA, Sarah Olson (fiancé Bryan Lucke), and James Olson, all of Ames, IA; great-grandsons, Grant and Will Chipman of Harlan, IA and Jonathan, Andrew, and Matthew Chipman of Big Rapids, MI; nieces and nephews; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Elmer and Gornelia (nee Peterson) Olson; sisters, Willetta O’Brion, Jodella Legvold, Elnor Nelson, and Harriett Schonberger

Education: attended country school in Webster County and graduated from Eagle Grove (IA) High School, Class of 1946, having played football and baseball while there.

Religious affiliation: baptized and confirmed at Badger Lutheran Church in Badger, IA; was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan, IA where he served on several boards and committees, taught Sunday school, participated in Bible studies, and sang in the church choir.

Military service: U. S. Army, March 1951 – March 1953; stationed in Germany

Marriage: Margaret Ann Nelson; January 12, 1951; Evangelical Lutheran Church, Eagle Grove, IA

Employment: Farmer, until 1959 when he became a field man for the Humboldt Livestock Auction Company in Humboldt, IA. In 1962, they moved to Harlan, IA when Willard was hired as a hog buyer for Western Iowa Pork Company. In 1971 he joined Squealer Feed Company of Harlan (IA) as a Territory Manager, and he remained in the feed industry for the rest of his working career. He retired from feed sales with United Feeds in 1999.

Additionally, he partnered with his son, Craig, and raised registered Landrace and Hampshire breeding stock; they exhibited their stock at many local, state, and national shows. He was instrumental in starting the Shelby County Pork Producer Association.

Hobbies/Interests: While in high school he was active in 4-H and FFA and showed hogs at county fairs and the Iowa State Fair; in his later years, he enjoyed judging many county, state and national hog shows. An active volunteer, he served his community as a 4-H leader, a Kiwanis member, and also served on the Board of Directors of Midstates Bank. Willard was inducted into the Shelby County Fair Hall of Fame in 1999.

Sources: harlanonline.com; kjan.com; knodfm.com; burmeisterjohannsen.com