Horace John Olson, age 91, of Jackson, Minn., passed away on June 4, 2022, at his residence. Visitation was held on June 18, 2022, at the Osterberg Funeral Home in Jackson, with a Celebration of Life service officiated by Dr. Martin Lucin.
Memorials to the Minnesota Alzheimer Association are preferred.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at OFH.Care.
Horace John Olson “Ole,” son of Horace and Margaret Olson, was born on Feb. 28, 1931, in Harmony, Minn. He graduated from Harmony High School in 1949. Throughout his high school years, he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. After one year at the University of Minnesota, Horace transferred to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where he played basketball. He graduated from Luther College in the spring of 1953 with a degree in Social Studies and Physical Education. It was there that he met “his lovely wife” Cleora “Collie” (Sikkink) Olson ‘52. The two were married on July 17, 1953, at the Greenleafton Reformed Church in Greenleafton, Minn. In 1954 they moved to Canton, Minn., where Horace was both a teacher and a basketball coach. In 1957 he accepted a teaching/coaching position in Preston, Minn. Horace returned to the University of Minnesota and received his master’s degree in school counseling, and in 1962 accepted the position of the high school counselor in Jackson. He remained at JHS until 1968 when he helped to establish the vocational school in Jackson and took a position as the Student Personnel Director until his retirement in 1991.
Horace and his friend Al Nelson started Canoe Des Moines, a canoe rental business, in the ’70s. Together, they spent the summers paddling the river and entertaining people of all ages. After retirement, Horace found more time for his hobbies, which included fishing, woodworking, and wood carving. He enjoyed sharing stories of all his fishing adventures in northern Minnesota, Saganaga Lake, (“Sag”), and Canada with his friends and family. He loved sports, enjoyed watching all the Minnesota sports teams, and was an avid fan of the Minnesota Gophers. Horace was an active member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Jackson, where he served as a church council member and became a familiar voice to anyone who tuned in to listen to the church broadcast on the local radio station.
Horace passed away at his home on June 4, 2022. He is survived by his wife Collie (Sikkink) Olson ‘52, son Mike (Carolyn) Olson of Minnetonka, and daughters Kim Olson, Peggy Kranz, and Erin Olson (Jeff Kruse) of Jackson. Grandchildren: Greg (Alison Mathias) Olson, William Kranz, Dinah (Darren) Sime, and Maren (Joshua Abels) Olson: Great Grandchildren Kori Olson, Stella Olson, and Lillian Sime, and many nieces and nephews. He was proceeded in death by his parents and one son, Mark D. Olson.
Ole was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and friend. His stories will live on through all who were blessed to know him.