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Photo of Merrill L. Olson

Merrill L. Olson

6/4/1930 - 12/17/2015


Obituary


Merrill Olson, 85, of Britt passed away Thursday, December 17, 2015, at Westview Care Center in Britt. This was his home for the last 3 years of his life.

Memorial services for Merrill Olson will be held on Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 2:00 PM at the Britt Christian Reformed Church, 569 Main Avenue North, with Pastor Joel DeBoer officiating. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Britt.

Visitation for Merrill Olson will be held on Friday, December 18, 2015, from 5:00 until 7:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Chapel, 178 Center Street West, in Britt and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.

Merrill, the son of Oscar and Anna (Gansveld) Olson was born at home in Britt on June 4, 1930. Merrill attended school in Britt.

Merrill married Frieda Grothe on January 9, 1954 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Frieda and Merrill lived their entire married life in Britt.

Merrill entered the United States Army in 1948 and was sent to Korea. After his years in the Service, Merrill worked for Iowa Electric Light and Power Company in the generator plant for nine years and later transferred to the gas department and retired at the age of 55. Following his retirement, Merrill worked at the Hancock County Fairgrounds and for Ewing Funeral Home. He also loved mowing lawns.

Merrill was a past member of the VFW, American Legion and Odd Fellows. He served as a member of the Britt Volunteer Fire Department for more than 30 years. Merrill also served on Britt City Council.

Merrill was an avid sports fan who loved watching his children and grandchildren in their sports activities. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Merrill is survived by his five children: Dorothy and her husband, James Werner of Osage and their three daughters, Christi of Adams, Minnesota, Lindsey and her husband Isaac Langerud of Fertile, and Brittany and her husband Ethan Jeffries of Osage; Judy and her husband Roger Allen of Britt, their daughter Heather and her husband Luke Noble of Britt; Gary of Britt and his daughters Candi and her husband Casey Patras of Urbandale, Kelli and her husband Matt Welp of Forest City, and Kassi and her husband Scott Salsbery of Coralville; Alfred and his wife Jill of Britt and her children Ryan and his wife Tina Fenton of Plainview, Minnesota, Luke and his wife Lisa Fenton of Rochester, Minnesota, and Cori Peterson of Ames; Mary and her husband Rick Willert of Britt and their children Joshua and his wife Katie of McKinney, Texas and Katelin of Britt; 18 great-grandchildren; one brother: Kenneth Olson and his wife Charlotte of Mason City; four sisters: Betty Lowe of Mason City, Arlene Schutjer of Mason City, Marjorie Halfpop of Belmond and Marcella Krambeer of Shellsburg, Iowa; sisters-in-law Elaine Olson and Shirley Olson; along with numerous other relatives and friends.

Merrill was preceded in death by his wife Frieda on November 28, 2010; his parents Oscar and Anna Olson; one sister: Bonnie Olson; two brothers: Jim Olson and Robert Olson; and four brothers-in-law: J.C. Lowe, Shorty Schutjer, Lloyd Halfpop and George Krambeer.