Albert Elias OLSON

OLSON, GABRIELSON, SCHMEDIKA, PASQUARIELLO, PHILLIPP, VALEN, HANKS, THORSON, FOLKERTS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/30/2006 at 13:10:39

Albert "Al" Elias Olson, 82, of Belmond, died Thursday, December 29, 2005, at the Belmond Medical Center Hospice Unit. Funeral services were held on Monday, January 2, 2006, at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Belmond. The Rev. Rod Hopp officiated. Burial, with full military honors provided by the Belmond Honor Guard, was held in the Belmond Cemetery.

Al Olson was born August 25, 1923 in Jewell, the son of Albert and Jennie (Gabrielson) Olson. He attended the Jewell Public Schools and graduated in 1941. He served in the United States Navy during World War II, spending much of his tenure aboard the USS Biloxi in the South Pacific. Al was united in marriage to Bette Ann Schmedika in Des Moines on August 27, 1949. Following their marriage, Al continued his education at Drake University and graduated with a B.A. Degree in 1951. He spent a period of time in private business in Jewell. Al accepted an offer to teach, coach, and be principal at the Alexander High School in 1956. The school eventually consolidated to form CAL School District with Al remaining in his role for the first year of transition. A Master's Degree in Education Administration from Colorado State College followed in 1963, after which he took the position of Jr. High Principal in the Belmond Community School District for seven years. His life long passion for education and learning continued with the completion of a Specialist's Degree in Secondary Education from Iowa State University in 1972. Al then accepted the leadership role of the Belmond Community School District, serving as Superintendent of Schools for the next 17 years before retirement on June 30, 1987.

He is survived by his wife of over 56 years, Bette of Belmond; his children and their spouses, Norm Olson and wife, Carmi of Nevada, Annette Pasquariello and husband, Bob of Olympia, Washington and Jody Phillipp and husband, Todd of Solon, Iowa; eight grandchildren; two sisters, Dorothy Valen and husband, Johnny of Story City and Joan Hanks of Buffalo, New York; one sister-in-law, Jane Olson of Nevada; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Marquerite Folkerts and Delores Thorson; and one brother, Clifton Olson.

January 5, 2006
© Wright County Monitor 2005