Olson, Donald J. (1917-2007)
OLSON, DRUGG, AMELSBERG, DAVIDS, BROWN, SCHULTE, STEIFF, TRAIL, WESTERBERG
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 1/21/2013 at 12:29:36
Donald J. Olson
July 3, 1917 - March 6, 2007FOREST CITY -- Donald J. Olson, age 89, of Forest City, died on Tuesday, March 6, 2007, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.
Born on July 3, 1917, in Forest City, Iowa, Donald John was the son of John A. and Ellen Matilda Drugg Olson. Raised in Forest City, he graduated from Forest City High School in 1935. After graduation, Don attended Waldorf College and later worked in his father’s furniture store. In 1940, he and his brother, Lloyd, purchased the furniture business.
On March 3, 1942, Donald joined the Army Air Corps. Stationed in India and China during World War II, he served as a communications supply technician for a radio signal corps. In 1946, Sergeant Olson received his honorable discharge and returned to Iowa where he enrolled in a cabinet making school in Des Moines. He, then, worked for Maynard Eames Construction in Forest City.
On November 28, 1947, he married Alpha Jean Olson in Forest City. The couple moved to Hampton, Iowa, where Don was employed at the Hampton Furniture Store. In 1953, he purchased the Coast-to-Coast Hardware Store in Belmond, which he operated for twenty years. He sold the business in 1973 and worked part-time for the Fullerton Lumber Company and Meyer Brothers Construction in Belmond. He later built speculation homes, delivered new Winnebago motor homes to dealers around the country, and drove a school bus for the Belmond School District.
On May 10, 1974, Alpha Olson preceded her husband in death. In 1978, Don moved back to his hometown of Forest City. On February 17, 1979, he married Eva Amelsberg.
Don was a charter member of the Belmond Bible Church (now known as the Evangelical Free Church) and a member of the First Baptist Church in Forest City. In earlier years, he found great success as a pitcher in the Belmond Church Softball League. He enjoyed woodworking, golfing, and playing checkers and card games. He especially loved spending time with his family.
Survivors include his wife, Eva, of Forest City, Iowa; three daughters, Anita (Jim) Davids, of Urbandale, Iowa, Jennifer (Steve) Brown, of Ft. Dodge, Iowa, and Wendy Schulte, of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota; two sons, Kevin (Robin) Olson, of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, and Tim (Sally) Olson, of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; a step-son, Jim (Lorraine) Amelsberg, of Forest City, Iowa; a step-daughter Julie (Alan) Steiff, of Brainerd, Minnesota; eight grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Esther Trail, of Roselle, Illinois; along with numerous nieces; nephews; and other family members and friends.
Don was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Alpha; one sister, Dorothy Westerberg; and a brother, Lloyd Olson.
Funeral service will be held on Monday, March 12, 2007, at 10:30 AM at the First Baptist Church in Forest City with Pastor Doug Snyder officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Forest City. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 6:00 PM, Sunday, March 11, 2007, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home and an hour prior to services at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to the First Baptist Church.
Copyright © 2007, Petersen Lund Funeral Home
Petersen Lund Funeral Home
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