Roland Chester Olson

Visitation

Monday, July 21, 2008, After 5:00 PMOhde Funeral Home Coon Rapids, IowaFuneral Service

Tuesday, July 22, 2008, 2:00 PM

First Christian ChurchCoon Rapids, Iowa

Officiating

Pastor Ben Ramirez

Music

 Amazing Grace?

How Great Thou Art?

Sam and Corrine Cretsinger

Lois Shirbroun, Organist

Casket Bearers

Jared Olson      Bryan Olson     Mike Carter       Melora Torp     Laura Lickfelt       Cathy Wilson

Honorary Casket Bearers

Sam Cretsinger    Harvey Andersen    Arnold Andersen

Ed Kinnick     Henry Petersen     Charles Headlee

Interment

Orange Township Cemetery

South of Coon Rapids, Iowa

    Roland Chester, son of Peter William and Lela (Christensen) Olson was born January 13, 1916, on a farm in Audubon County, Iowa. He attended school rural school near his home and after completing his education, started working with his father on the farm.

   On February 14, 1939, Roland was united in marriage with Dolores Cretsinger at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. Two sons were born to this union. Roland worked for a short time as a painter for Jake Ruhs and at Godwins in Exira.  In 1942 they moved to Omaha, NE, where Roland worked at Martin B-26 bomber plant. In 1945 he worked as a street car driver in Omaha before moving to a farm in Guthrie County near Coon Rapids, Iowa. After the death of his wife Dolores in 1971, Roland continued to farm until he retired in 1979. He stayed on the farm and took up woodworking, a lifelong interest.

   On June 27, 1984, Roland was united in marriage with Mary Eileen Kinnick Smith whose husband had died in 1977. Roland and Eileen made their home on his farm south of Coon Rapids until they moved to their home in Coon Rapids. Roland was an active member of the First Christian Church. Eileen died in 1999 and Roland continued to live in their home until his health began to fail and he moved to Swan House in Carroll.

    In 2006, Roland relocated to Exira Care Center in Exira where he died on Thursday evening, July 17, 2008, at the age of 92 years, 6 months and 4 days.

   Preceding Roland in death are his parents; two wives; brother William Roscoe Olson and sister Marie Jones.

   He is survived by his two sons Roger Olson and wife Judy of Gray and Dwight Olson and wife Donita of Reading, MI; five grandchildren: Jared Olson and wife Melissa; Bryan Olson and wife Donna; Melora Torp; Laura and husband Christopher Lickfelt and Cathy and husband Robert Wilson; 12 great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.