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Written by William David Sherman Olson |
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| DR. VERNON GEORGE OLSON | LAURA O. OLSON | |
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Vernon G. "Doc" Olson, 74, 418 Marston Av., passed away after a long illness on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 1995, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire.
Doc was born on February 22, 1920, in Eau Claire to Gustav and Gunvor
(Sherman) Olson. He attended the Eau Claire Public School System and
graduated from Eau Claire High School in 1938. He served in the Pacific Theatre from New Guinea in
World War II where he received a field commission and was awarded
the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. On Feb. 21, 1942, in Alexandria,
Louisiana, he married Laura O. Hanson of Eau Claire. Despite having been seriously wounded and having to
live with a 100% disability, he accomplished the following
throughout his life: He graduated from the University of Wisconsin --
Eau Claire and, in 1947, earned a Doctorate of Optometry from the
Chicago College of Optometry. He is a member of the International
Phi Theta Upsilon fraternity, served 10 years on the Board of
Interviewers for the selection of new students at Specific University,
Forest Grove, Oregon. Doc spent 3 years on the State Board of
Directors of The Wisconsin Optometric Association. In the 1960's Gov.
Knowles appointed him to the Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs. He
served 10 years, 5 as chairman. In 1975, 72 County Veteran Service Officers
unanimously selected him as veteran of the year for Wisconsin. Doc
was Past President of the Mehara Shrine Club and the Eau Claire
Exchange Club. He is a past State Commander of the Wisc. VFW, and Past Commander
of VFW Post 305 in Eau Claire. He served as National MOC Supreme
Commander (Honor Degree) of the VFW, Past State Grand Commander,
MOC, and Past Supreme Consul, MOC for Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
Doc Olson is a 46- year member of the BPOB #402, and a Life Member
of the VFW Children's Home, Eaton Rapids, Michigan; he is a 32nd Degree Scottish
Rite Mason, and member of the Low 12 Club, ZOR Shrine, Madison, Wis. He's a life member of the Purple Heart, and the DAV.
He was also elected to the Eau Claire Board of Education where he
named Memorial High School, and served 10 years on the Eau Claire County
Board of Health (5 as secretary). Survivors include his wife, Laura; sons Thomas V. of Eau Claire; Jon R. of Eleva; and William D.S. of Minneapolis; and sister, Lenore K. Gunn of Eau Claire, four grandchildren, Chad T., Talia N., Kristi C., and Matthew J.; and by many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Steven A.; grandson, Travis A., his parents; four brothers, G. Sherman, John C., H. Robert, David W.; and sister, Carol F. Erickson. Visitation will be Friday, Feb. 17, at Lenmark's Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Feb. 18, at Grace Lutheran Church.
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Laura O. Olson, 82, formerly of 418 Marston Avenue, died Saturday, October 19, 2002, at Syverson Lutheran Home. She was born in Eau Claire on May 23, 1920, the daughter of Olaf and Kristiana (Hugdal) Hanson. She was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church. Laura lived almost her entire life in Eau Claire. She graduated from Eau Claire High School in 1939, and married Dr. Vernon G. Olson in Alexandria, Louisiana, on February 21, 1942. Because they married a day before Vernon’s birthday, he liked to say she was his birthday present. While Vernon fought in the South Pacific in World War II, Laura manufactured bomb parts at the Presto Cooker plant in Eau Claire. She saved the money she earned to help start a family once the war was over. The war ended soon for the couple when Vernon was seriously wounded and sent home. But he survived and Laura helped him study in Chicago to become an optometrist while raising their first-born son, Thomas. Though the war finally ended, its effects lasted; Laura would occasionally have to nurse her husband through lingering and recurring health problems left over from his war injury. She did so without ever complaining about the burden. And she always remained a faithful and loyal wife. As a mother of four children, she attended basketball games and Little League, was a chauffeur and helped bait hooks. She made sure her kids went to school and Sunday school, and she was a stay-at-home mom who always provided a secure presence for her family. In 1973, the death of son Steven in a car-train accident left her devastated. She never truly got over it, but she persevered. She was an avid bowler, loved to sing, and was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, the Elks, the American Legion Auxiliary, and is a past-president of the VFW Auxiliary at Post 305. She loved to bake cookies, and she loved Christmas, which she worked hard to make a special holiday for the family. And as she was always fond of telling people, when she was 17, she worked as a waitress at Walgreen’s. She is survived by three sons, Thomas V. of Eau Claire, Jon R. (Nadine) of Eleva and William D.S. of Eau Claire; four grandchildren, Chad T., Talia N., Kristine C. and Matthew J.; a great-grandson, Vance Anthony Emerson; a sister Emma Herrick of Madison; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1995; a son Steven A.; grandson, Travis A.; four brothers, Conwal, Raymond, Sigurd and Glenn Hanson; two sisters, Alfield Stanley and Violet Dean; four brothers-in-law, G. Sherman, John C., H. Robert and David W. Olson; and two sisters-in-law Lenore Gunn and Carol F. Erickson. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, October 23, 2002, at Grace Lutheran Church with Pastor Andrew Boe officiating. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery. Friends and family may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home and an hour prior to services Wednesday at the church. |
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