Dr. Lawrence E. (L.E.) OLESON

OLESON, NUESSEN, LEFFLER, ENRIQUES, VANDERLIP, RYAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/28/2006 at 12:52:12

REPORTER - Dows, Wright County, Iowa
Volume 80, No. 49, page 1
Thursday, Feb. 27, 1964

Community Mourns Death of L.E. Oleson

The Dows area was joined by a host of others throughout the state and elsewhere in grief over the death of Dr. L.E. Oleson, an extraordinarily popular and much respected life long resident of Dows and dean of the local veterinary profession. At age 66, ‘Doc’ as he was known, died at two o’clock Wed. morning, February 26, at Clarion Hospital. Death was caused by a heart condition which had caused his semi retirement for the past two years, but which did not affect his spirit and his abiding interest in people, his profession and his community. Funeral services will be held today, Friday, at 10 o’clock, from the First Presbyterian Church in Dows. The church is expected to be swelled with hundreds of saddened friends, relatives and others who came to love and respect the man as he reached them in all walks of life.

Dr. Oleson was born in Dows, attended schools in this community, and was graduated from Chicago Veterinary College in 1918. He served in the army during World War I, and then returned to his native community to practice his profession. He was a practicing veterinarian for 45 years. He was also well know throughout the state and Midwest for his interest in pony breeding, and was acclaimed as one of the few remaining horse and pony specialists. During the past two years of semi-retirement he confined his interests to this field. He was active in civic and community affairs being a member of the Masonic Lodge, Lions Club, Community Club, Wright County Veterinary Medical Association and former member of the Dows Community School Board.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Faith Oleson; four daughters, Mary Lou Nuessen of Quincy, IL; Katherine Rae Leffler of Birmingham, MI; Faith Enriques of Las Vegas, NV; and Elizabeth Oleson of Mc Henry, IL; two sisters, Mrs. H.B. (Buenetta) Vanderlip and Mrs. Harold (Melba) Ryan, of Dows, and one brother, LuVerne Oleson of Dows, and 13 grandchildren.

REPORTER
Dows, Wright County, Iowa
Volume 80, No. 49, page 1
Thursday, Feb. 27, 1964

TRIBUTE TO “DOC” OLESON

It is difficult to describe a man of the caliber of L.E. Oleson because his many fine characteristics meant so many different things to the thousands of people with whom he came into contact. Loyalty, deep sense of responsibility honesty, sense of fair play, an inborn kindness mixed with gruff gentleness, an interest in other people, and a keen sense of humor combined to make the man ‘someone special’ to all who had the privilege of knowing him. Plain spoken and with a true sense of values, the picture Doc Oleson presented was of a man who had his feet planted on the ground, but liked to dream a little . . . enjoy life . . . and at the same time harm no one and help where he could. Yes, this is a difficult picture to draw of a man. Perhaps the most accurate picture (and probably the one Doc would have liked best) is that which undoubtedly would be drawn in the mind of the animals he loved and cared for so well, especially the beloved horses and ponies who received the skilled attention of this dedicated man.

We believe if they could express themselves, this would be their emotion. Needing care or attention in the barn or pasture, a fairly short and stocky man could be relied upon to come no matter what the time f day or night. You would know it was ‘Doc’ because of the way he approached, and not by his face, because that was always partly covered by a big hat pulled down and resting on the bridge of his nose. His touch would be rough, but gentle, immediately expressing that this man knew what he was about, and that all the skill and years of dedication and experience that were humanly possible were being applied. His patients knew, too, we think, that there was a unique combination of man who backed up his experience with a never ending effort to keep abreast of new developments in his profession. Here was a man who was dedicated to serve . . . to serve the masters of the animals and to serve the animals themselves, since he had made their welfare his responsibility for 45 years of his professional life. If the animals he treated knew they were in dedicated hands, they must have known too that this man called ‘Doc’ would consider the welfare of their masters, too. Doc was never known to refuse a call because a master could not pay. His charges could have been considerably more at all times, but he never placed money before the other considerations that motivated his professional dedication or his understanding of human values. And we imagine that many a call was made from his first year of practice until his last where he knew there would be little or no payment. Quite possibly the animals sensed that this man called Doc was concerned with their welfare, but did everyone fully appreciate the fact that he was always concerned with the welfare of other people too? This is borne out not only by his generous way of doing business, but by his service to family, community, friends and just plain folks in general!

This is the picture we see of Doc Oleson, combined with so many other good qualities that it would be difficult to list them all. Surely, the man had faults as all men have, but perhaps the best way to end this tribute is to do what Doc always practiced. Look for the best in a man! With a not to be forgotten, and not to be duplicated person such as L.E. Oleson, it is easy to see the good in a man, and we have touched upon only a few of his qualities. However, his passing does not end the effect of this man on people, the community and his profession, and he will be remembered and honored for many generations to come.

Source: Laura Prudden