Christina Louise (Schwartz) OLSON OLSEN

SCHWARTZ, OLSON, OLSEN, BERGMAN, GRAVES, SCHAEFER, KLUCKHOHN, LUIS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/10/2010 at 12:00:32

Belmond Independent, Iowa
May 2, 2006

Christina L. Olsen, 88, a long-time Klemme resident, died April 27, 2006 at the Belmond Health Care Center. Services were held May 1 at the Klemme United Methodist Church with Rev. Paddy Druhl officiating. Burial was in the Ell Township Cemetery, Klemme.

Christina Louise, the daughter of Pearl and Celia (Bergman) Schwartz, was born January 4, 1918 on her parents' farm in Titonka. She attended school in Wesley until moving to Klemme in 1929 with her family. She married Melvin Olson on February 27, 1937 and they had sons Merlyn and Roger. She later married Arlin Olsen on July 6, 1946 and they had sons Harland and Randy and daughter Corrine (Susie). They resided in the Clear Lake-Ventura area before moving back to Klemme. Christina was a homemaker, devoted wife, and business partner with Arlin. In addition to providing a warm and nurturing home for her family, Christina was employed in a variety of occupations. She worked as a housekeeper and at numerous restaurants including Gerardi's Cafe, Duke's Cafe, Soft Spot, and Slippery Elm Golf Course all in Klemme. She drove a school bus beginning in 1973 and helped Arlin drive truck. She was an excellent seamstress. Christina enjoyed gardening and collecting bells and salt and pepper shakers. She loved garage sales and was always ready for a sip of tea and a good visit. Her children and grandchildren remember her pies and other baking and canning. She was an avid collector of news articles and announcements in area newspapers, sharing details about the lives of those she knew. She was especially fond of cats. Christina was active in the United Methodist Church where she was a member of the Miriam Circle for over 50 years and the UMW. She belonged to the Klemme American Legion Auxiliary for 40 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Arlin in 2005; son Roger in 1997; brothers Herbert and Harold Schwartz; and an infant sister. Survivors include sons Merlyn (Audrey) Olson of Santa Maria, CA, Harland (Janet) Olsen of Mason City, and Randy (Monica) Olsen of Garner; her daughter Corrine (Susie) Olsen of Klemme; daughter-in-law Linda Olson of Ventura; sister Caroline (Kenneth) Kluckhohn of Klemme; sister-in-law Jean Schwartz of Belmond; grandchildren Doni (Bill) Schaefer, Denette Olson, DeAnne (Mike) Luis, Dan (Eenja) Olson, Greg (Kim) Olson, Ryan (Tina) Olsen, Shannon (Gary) Graves, Jim Olsen, and Jenn Olsen; and great grandchildren, Will, Sarah and Evan Schaefer, Lane, Levi and Aubrey Luis, Jacob, Daniel and Nicole Olson; Zachary and Caitlin Olson, Riley and Wyatt Olsen, and Alex, Bailey and Maria Graves.