Mickey Carl Olson 1942 - 2008

KIMMELL, OLSON, THOMPSON, KING

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 5/2/2019 at 19:57:30

Sioux City Journal
23 October 2008

SIOUX CITY -- Mickey Carl Olson, 65, of Sioux City passed away surrounded by family on Monday, Oct. 13, 2008, at his residence following a two-year battle with cancer.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at First Congregational United Church of Christ, with the Rev. Alva F. Hohl Jr. officiating. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel.

Mickey was born Oct. 15, 1942, in Baldwin, Wis., the son of Howard and Elnora (Kimmell) Olson. He graduated from high school in 1960 in Menomonie, Wis. In 1965, he received a degree in sociology and physical education from the University of Wisconsin in River Falls, where he was a member of the River Falls swim team. In 1970, he received his master's degree from Winona State in Minnesota.

In 1964, he married Jerilyn Thompson, whom he was married to for 13 years. To that union two children were born, Erik and Tory. He later married Patti (King) Olson on Dec. 22, 1995 in Sioux City.

From 1969 to 1970, he was the high school swim coach in Plymouth, Wis. From 1970 to 1972, he was the head swim coach and physical education instructor at Winona State. From 1973 to 1977, he was head swim coach at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis. He moved to Sioux City in 1977 and was an elementary physical education teacher at Sunnyside and Crescent Park, along with other schools around Sioux City. He was a swim coach at West High School and later with Metro. He coached more than 300 victories throughout his 25 years as a coach.

He received a 25 year award from the Iowa Swim Coaching Association. He was a 13 time All American Master Swimmer and officiated at the NCAA National Swim Meet for girls 10 times. When he retired, he became a high school swim official and worked at Four Seasons Health Club as a swim teacher and trainer. In 2000, he was a certified official at the USA Olympic trials for swimming. Throughout his years, he traveled through 24 different states officiating. He really enjoyed coaching his own children.

An important event that he attended every year was venturing back to his hometown of Knapp, Wis., to visit his friends "The Knappkins", his mother and sister. He was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ.

He enjoyed fishing, swimming, spending time at Okoboji, Iowa, and photography. He also enjoyed playing cribbage in the mornings with his Four Seasons friends before he did a workout. A big part of his life was spending time with his family, friends and especially his grandchildren.

Survivors include his mother, Elnora (Kimmell) Olson of Amery, Wis.; his wife, Patti Olson of Sioux City; two sons, Tory (Michelle) Olson of Minneapolis, and Erik (Diana) Olson of Minneapolis; three stepsons, Steven (significant other, Joanna) Leighton of Omaha, David (Jessica) Leighton of West Des Moines and Mark Leighton of Sioux City; a sister, Penny (Jim) Holden of Clayton, Wis.; grandchildren, Rhett and Colton Olson of Minneapolis, and Arabella Leighton of West Des Moines; three nephews, Chris (fiancee, Marie) Holden, Scott (Angie) Holden and Ty (Merry) Holden, all of Hudson, Wis.; many grandnieces and grandnephews; and his special friends, Don Copas and Tim Heikes.

He was preceded in death by his father; and maternal and paternal grandparents.

Honorary pallbearers will be Don Copas, Tim Heikes, Steve King, Bill King, Andy Lodermeier and Jim Holden.

Memorials may be made in his name to Hospice of Siouxland or the June E. Nylen Cancer Center.