Paul A. Olson 1873 - 1954

OLSON, ROSENBERGER, BUTCHER, KNUDSON, BARTLETT, MALMANGER, NELSON

Posted By: Tamara Jorstad (email)
Date: 5/2/2004 at 07:40:25

From the Ames Daily Tribue (Ames, Iowa) Monday, November 15, 1954:

P. A. Olson, Story City, Dies at 81

Paul Anton Olson, 81, for 50 years publisher of the Story City Herald, died this morning at Story City Memorial hospital.

Mr. Olson was stricken with a heart malady in February. He returned to the hospital Oct. 9 and died there at 9 a.m. today.

Funeral services will be Friday at 1:30 p.m. at Grace Evangelical United Brethren church there.

Paul Olson was born in Chicago, Ill., Sept. 6, 1873. He came to Story City with his parents at the age of three months. He started hand-setting type at 12 years of age at the Story City Review.

Three years later at 16 he went to Chicago where he lived and worked for 16 years first as newspaper helper, then as associate editor, and later as editor and publisher and owner of his own print shop.

In September, 1905, P. A. Olson purchased the Story City Herald. Thus, at the time of his death, "P. A." as he was affectionately known always in the community, had commenced his 50th year as editor of this newspaper.

In 1946 he received the Iowa Master Editor-Publisher award from the Iowa Press associatoin, the highest honor in his profession.

He was a member of the local Grace Evangelical U. B. church, serving its Sunday school as superintendent for 33 years, and its membership as church trustee for over 40 years. He was delegate to the World's Sunday school convention in Oslo, Norway, in 1936.

He was a past president of the Story City Commercial club, past member of the Story City school board, six years; present member of the Story County Republican Central committee, 30 years; present secretary of the Story City camp of Modern Woodmen, 50 years; and holds professional membership in Sigma Delta Chi, honorary journalism fraternity.

He is survived by one son, Arthur E. Olson, co-publisher, Story City Herald; one daughter, Mrs. A. B. Rosenberger, Estherville; five grandsons, Paul Rosenberger, Peoria, Ill.; Clark Rosenberger, Las Vegas, Nev.; Wayne Olson, armed forces, Korea; Alan and Jon Olson of Story City.

He is survived also by five sisters, Mr. Lina Butcher, Salt Lake City, Utah; Mrs. Josie Knudson, Leesburg, Ga.; Mrs. C. M. Bartlett, Mrs. John Malmanger and Mrs. Andrew Nelson, Story City; also several nieces and nephews.