Gerald “Jerry” Charles Olson, 85, of Lanesboro, died Thursday, March 1, 2018, due to complications of Inclusion Body Myositis.
Jerry was born October 30, 1932, in Eugene, Oreg., to Harold and Jennie (Peterson) Olson. He grew up in Luck, Wis., graduating from Luck High School in 1951. Jerry served in the U.S. Coast Guard (Korean War) Atlantic Ocean Coast Patrol. While stationed in Portland, Maine, he was introduced to Vivian Irene MacVane. He brought Vivian home to the midwest and they were married June 23, 1957, at the Methodist Church in Atlas, Wis. They resided in Minneapolis where Jerry attended MN School of Business and was later employed by Iowa National Mutual Insurance Co. as a workman’s compensation auditor.
In 1970, Jerry moved his family to Lanesboro. Jerry’s job brought him through parts of Wisconsin and Iowa, but mostly southern Minnesota where he enjoyed the friendship and company of many “golf buddies.”
He enjoyed sports at all levels, especially Wisconsin and Minnesota teams and the Green Bay Packers foremost, especially visiting Lambeau. He would drive many extra miles to be home to attend his children’s activities and always schedule his work route to be present at out of town games.
Jerry spent many pleasurable days with family and friends camping, canoeing, fishing, playing softball and cutting wood. He especially enjoyed singing with the Elstad Lutheran Church choir for the Christmas Cantata, and the Lanesboro Quartet.
He retired in 1995 to have the pleasure of golfing with the Tuesday morning senior men’s group. He became a van driver for the Lanesboro Public School district and formed memorable relationships with the students.
In 2004, the diagnosis of Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM) slowly began to change his life. Jerry and his family are very grateful for the compassionate care he received by Rachel and the Mayo Gonda 10 Oncology staff, Good Samaritan Society Home Care – Preston, especially Vickie and Helen, Veteran Services of Minnesota, St. Marys ER, Mary Brigh 6 ICU, Domatilla 5, and the Lanesboro Ambulance. In 2017, he was invited to attend the Freedom Honor Flight to Washington D. C. as a Korean War veteran, an especially humbling honor for him. Accompanied by Chris (his guardian) and Dick Fuller, sponsored by the Lanesboro Legion, LHS and community. Jerry was a member of the United Methodist Church, Lanesboro Golf Course, American Legion, City Planning and Zoning Committee and the Peterson Motors Bowling Team.
Jerry is survived by his wife Vivian; brother Dean (Michelle) Olson; children: Jeff (Kate) Olson of Lanesboro, Jennifer Kimball-Olson of Lanesboro, Craig (Glory) Olson of Shawnee, Kans., Rebecca (Chris) Hale of Rochester, and Mike Kimball of Fountain; grandchildren: Gabriel (Whitney) Kimball, Ashley (Brandon) Wangen, Samantha (Phil) Albrecht, Caleb and Rachel Kimball and Ashton and Marryn Hale; and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and grandson, Benjamin Kimball.
A Celebration of Jerry’s life will be held at a later date in Lanesboro. The family suggests memorials to: Myositis Research https://myositis.secure.nonprofitsoapbox.com/get-involved/donate, Good Samaritan Society Home Care -— Preston, Lanesboro Ambulance, or the Lanesboro Friends of the Library.
Please share a memory of Jerry and sign his online guestbook at www.hofffuneral.com.