Clifford Sherly OLSON

OLSON, CRAFTON, MCALLISTER, SIMONSON, KELLY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/16/2016 at 15:05:44

March 27, 1927 --- April 9, 2016

Ames, Iowa --- Clifford Sherly Olson was born on March 27, 1927 in Dows, Iowa during the depression to Clifford Melvin Olson and Ina Lillian Crafton Olson. He passed away on April 9, 2016. At age 14 he went to live with his maternal grandmother, Lottie Ann Mc Allister Crafton to help with the farm and dairy. He earned his pilots license before his drivers license at age 16. He graduated from Dows High School in 1945. He enlisted in the Army Air Corp as a pilot and served until 1947. After returning to Dows he worked for the United States Postal Service. It was there he met his "true love" - the new 4th grade school teacher.

Cliff married Gladys Juliann Simonson on August 16, 1948. They enjoyed a well earned wonderful life together for 62 years. They moved to Denver, Colorado in 1953 when Cliff transferred to the Denver post office. In 1958 he became an Air Traffic Controller. After a stellar career he became supervisor of the training department of the Denver Center.

In 1955 they became parents to Jolene Rae Olson Kelly. Both thought of their son-in-law, Marty Gene Kelly, as a son. In 1984 they became proud grandparents to Devin Reid Kelly and in 1988 welcomed Shane Cameron Kelly into their family. He was so proud of his family and loved being "Big Grandpa" to his great-grandchildren - Tristan, Charlotte (Lottie), Felix and Willow.

Family was very important to him and through genealogy he traced his paternal family back to 1600 in Norway. He loved getting to know his Norwegian relatives and exploring Norway. He was a active member of Sons of Norway. Other passions included flying, golfing, photography, trout fishing (even though he wouldn't eat them), volunteering as a math tutor, as a "swimming buddy" for special needs children, delivering Meals-on-Wheels, and helping with Para and Special Olympics. Everyone who met Cliff left the encounter smiling.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Ollie Ann Olson, his niece Susan Ann Olson, and his beloved wife Gladys. Survivors include his brother James Olson, daughter Jolene and her husband Marty, grandson Devin and wife Lisa, grandson Shane and wife Chelsea, his great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins, both in the US and Norway.

A memorial service will be held at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Ames on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 2:00 PM.

Des Moines Register -- Iowa
April 17, 2016