Obituary for Donald Erwin Olson
Donald Erwin Olson, 91, a
life-long resident of Olson Road in Ironwood Township, passed away Wednesday,
Feb. 9, 2011, in Ironwood. Don was born March 9, 1919, in Ironwood, son
of the late Lillie (Fell) and Carl Hjalmer Olson, attended Ironwood Township
schools, and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1936. He married Anna Marie Rye on June 23, 1945.
Together, they built a home on Olson Road where they raised nine children. Don
and Ann celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2010. Don and his brother, Gerhard, built and
operated Sunset Dairy on Olson Road until they merged with Blue Ribbon Dairy,
becoming Consolidated Dairies in Bessemer. He retired in 1981. Retirement found time for woodworking
and making furniture for all of his children and grandchildren. A few hand made
oak roll top desks and other pieces found their way to lucky people outside of
the family. Don cut the trees from his and Gerhard's land, milled them at his
sawmill and worked out of his basement shop. He loved playing cards (smear),
growing vegetables, playing the mandolin and sitting out on the bench in the
evening. He is missed. Surviving are his wife, Ann; eight children,
Donna (Jim) Finley, Ironwood Township, Donald (Sandy) Olson, Harbor Springs,
Judy (Walt) Hemes, North Lake, Wis., Robert (Colleen) Olson, Niceville, Fla.,
Susan Olson, Fontana, Wis., Cheryl (Greg) Cosgrove, South St. Paul, Minn.,
and Dale and Dan (Paula) Olson, both of Ironwood Township; 25 grandchildren and
20 great-grandchildren; a brother, Gerhard Olson, Ironwood Township; and
numerous nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death
by a daughter, Marilynn Loreti; two brothers, Ronald in infancy and Lawrence;
and a sister, Lois Prezkop. Out of respect for Don's wishes, cremation has
taken place. A private family spring memorial service is
planned. Inurnment will be in Sunset Acres Cemetery,
Ironwood Township. Memorial contributions may be made to the Our
Lady of Peace Adopt-A-Student Program, 108 So. Marquette St., Ironwood, Mich.
49938, or the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 86, Ironwood, Mich. 49938. Online condolences may be given to Don's
family at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.
life-long resident of Olson Road in Ironwood Township, passed away Wednesday,
Feb. 9, 2011, in Ironwood. Don was born March 9, 1919, in Ironwood, son
of the late Lillie (Fell) and Carl Hjalmer Olson, attended Ironwood Township
schools, and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1936. He married Anna Marie Rye on June 23, 1945.
Together, they built a home on Olson Road where they raised nine children. Don
and Ann celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2010. Don and his brother, Gerhard, built and
operated Sunset Dairy on Olson Road until they merged with Blue Ribbon Dairy,
becoming Consolidated Dairies in Bessemer. He retired in 1981. Retirement found time for woodworking
and making furniture for all of his children and grandchildren. A few hand made
oak roll top desks and other pieces found their way to lucky people outside of
the family. Don cut the trees from his and Gerhard's land, milled them at his
sawmill and worked out of his basement shop. He loved playing cards (smear),
growing vegetables, playing the mandolin and sitting out on the bench in the
evening. He is missed. Surviving are his wife, Ann; eight children,
Donna (Jim) Finley, Ironwood Township, Donald (Sandy) Olson, Harbor Springs,
Judy (Walt) Hemes, North Lake, Wis., Robert (Colleen) Olson, Niceville, Fla.,
Susan Olson, Fontana, Wis., Cheryl (Greg) Cosgrove, South St. Paul, Minn.,
and Dale and Dan (Paula) Olson, both of Ironwood Township; 25 grandchildren and
20 great-grandchildren; a brother, Gerhard Olson, Ironwood Township; and
numerous nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death
by a daughter, Marilynn Loreti; two brothers, Ronald in infancy and Lawrence;
and a sister, Lois Prezkop. Out of respect for Don's wishes, cremation has
taken place. A private family spring memorial service is
planned. Inurnment will be in Sunset Acres Cemetery,
Ironwood Township. Memorial contributions may be made to the Our
Lady of Peace Adopt-A-Student Program, 108 So. Marquette St., Ironwood, Mich.
49938, or the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 86, Ironwood, Mich. 49938. Online condolences may be given to Don's
family at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.