Dale Duane Olson

Dale Duane Olson, 80, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 4, 2016, at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines, IA, with his family by his side.

Duane was born on October 29, 1935 in Bayport, MN, the oldest son of Lars and Mildred (Rydeen) Olson. He graduated from Stillwater High School, Stillwater, MN in 1953, attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN for one year, and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1958. Duane served for two years in the U.S. Naval Reserve, working as a radio operator. Following his graduation from college, he worked for Weyerhaeuser Lumber Company in Washington and Idaho for two years. Duane then entered the Augustana Seminary in Rock Island, IL, receiving his Master of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology (Rock Island campus) in May 1965. He was ordained as a minister in the Lutheran Church of America (LCA, later known as ELCA) in June 1965. Following his ordination, Duane had a 50-year career as a Lutheran Minister. He served as minister for the following congregations: Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mediapolis, IA; Christ Lutheran Church in Des Moines, IA; Trinity Lutheran Church in Alta, IA; and Grace Lutheran Church in Marathon, IA. He has also served as a vacancy pastor for many other Lutheran churches in northwest Iowa over the years. Duane also worked as a Financial Representative for Thrivent Financial (formerly Lutheran Brotherhood) in Storm Lake, IA for thirty-one years. Throughout his career of service, Duane served on the boards of various organizations and was a member of Kiwanis.

Duane will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband and father who was immensely proud of his Swedish heritage and his children and grandchildren. He delighted in conversation with family, friends, and strangers alike, talking politics and swapping stories over coffee, and was an avid fan of anything Minnesota, including the Golden Gophers, Vikings and Twins.

Duane is survived by his beloved wife, Helen, and eleven children: Neil (Joan) Olson of Lakeville, MN; Tara (David) Slaughter of Waukee, IA; Wade Olson of Menomonee Falls, WI; Matthew (Alison) Olson of Overland Park, KS; Laura (Brian) Bieker of Waukee, IA; Clay (Jennifer) Olson of Panora, IA; Kerstin (Grant Asay) Olson of Wheaton, IL; Nathan (Martine) Olson-Daniel of Des Moines, IA; Justin (Melissa) Olson of Watha, NC; Timothy Olson of Ankeny, IA; and Joshua Olson of Des Moines, IA. He is also survived by thirty-three grandchildren: Michael, Kathryn and Alec Olson; Jennifer, Matthew, Elizabeth, Caroline and Daniel Slaughter; Stefan, Andrew and Joseph Olson; Derek, Owen, Zachary, Ian, Ashley, Samuel, Jackson and Nick Olson; Emily, Rachel, Hannah and Daniel Bieker; Danielle, Meredith and Mykenzie Olson; Tyler Andrews; Noah, Caleb, Asher and Kaia Olson-Daniel; Evrie and Townes Olson; and one great-granddaughter, Sophia Wilkening. Two brothers also survive Duane: Robert (Mary) Olson of Bayport, MN and Gary (Margaret) Olson of Greensboro, NC, and their families. His parents, Lars and Mildred Olson, preceded him in death.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 9, 2016, from 3pm – 5pm at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, IA. Funeral services will be held at 10 am on Monday, October 10, 2016, at Faith Lutheran Church, 10395 University Ave, Clive, IA, with the Reverend Sarah Trone-Garriott and the Reverend Randy Olson presiding. Burial will take place at Jordan Cemetery in West Des Moines immediately following the service. All are welcome to a luncheon at Faith Lutheran Church after the burial.

The family will be forever grateful to the physicians, nurses, aides and staff at Taylor House Hospice. Words cannot begin to express our thanks and appreciation for their gentle and compassionate care of Duane over these past twelve weeks.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines, IA.

Condolences and memories may be expressed online at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

Print