Albert Elias OLSON

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

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/28/2007 at 23:47:33

January 3, 2006

Albert (Al) E. Olson, 82, of Belmond, long time educator, coach, and school administrator, died on 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, with Reverend Rod Hopp officiating. Burial, with military honors provided by the Belmond Honor Guard, was in the Belmond Cemetery.

Albert Elias, was born on August 25, 1923 in Jewell, the son of Albert and Jennie (Gabrielson) Olson. He was baptized and confirmed in the Bethesda Lutheran Church and graduated from the Jewell High School in 1941. He served in the United States Navy during WW II, spending much of his tenure aboard the USS Biloxi in the South Pacific. Al married Bette Ann Schmedika in Des Moines on August 27, 1949. Following their marriage, Al continued his education at Drake University and graduated in 1951. He spent a period of time in private business in Jewell and then accepted an offer to teach, coach, and be principal in 1956 at the Alexander High School. The school consolidated to form CAL, with Al remaining for the first year of transition. He earned his Masters in Education Administration from Colorado State College in 1963 and took the position of Junior High Principal in Belmond for seven years. He completed a specialist's degree in secondary education from Iowa State University in 1972. Al served as Superintendent of the Belmond Community School District for 17 years, retiring in June 1987. Al's life at Trinity Lutheran Church was very important to him. He fulfilled many roles, including teaching 8th grade Sunday School for 15 years and serving two terms as Church Council President. In the community, he enjoyed delivering Meals-on-Wheels and driving the Belmond Care Car. He was a member of the Belmond Lions, the Grid Iron Club, and the Iowa Association of School Administrators. Al served on the Belmond Library Board for 17 years. He was awarded the Administrator's Award from the Iowa High School Athletic Association in 1988, Boss of the Year from the Jaycee's in 1982, Honorary B-Club Award for being an outstanding BHS sports fan and supporter, and the Friend of Education Award in 1987 from the Belmond Education Association. Children in general, and his grandchildren in particular, were very special to Al. If there was a baby in the crowd, it would be held by him. Al and Bette celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with a surprise trip to Norway, a gift from their children. Al enjoyed sports of all kinds. He participated in baseball and basketball throughout high school and continued to play competitive basketball until he was over 30. He was never on a losing team. He attended the Drake Relays as a spectator for over 40 years. Al had a life long passion for education and helping others better themselves. He enjoyed his educational career and many times mentioned the respect and admiration he had for the people he had worked with, a mutual admiration mentioned in return by many people who knew him as not only their boss, but as their friend.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Marguerite Folkerts and Delores Thorson; and brother, Clifton Olson. Survivors include his wife; children, spouses and grandchildren, Norm and Carmi Olson of Nevada, Camron, Malinda and Kalli; Annette and Bob Pasquariello of Olympia, Washington, Jason, Jeffrey and Daniel; Jody and Todd Philipp of Solon, Payton and Presley; sisters, Dorothy (Johnny) Valen of Story City and Joan Hanks of Buffalo, New York; and sister-in-law, Jane Olson of Nevada.

©Belmond Independent 2006