Robert E. (Bob) Olson, age 80, of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, passed away on Wednesday, June 26th, 2019 at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls. He was born September 21st, 1938 in Canby, Minnesota to Donald and Frances (Kruckman) Olson, the fourth oldest of 10 kids, commonly called the "Olson Tribe". Bob graduated from Canby High School in 1956 and attended St. Cloud State, leaving before completion to join the United States Marine Corps in January, 1957. Bob was stationed in MCRD San Diego, Camp Pendleton, NAS Jacksonville, NAS Olathe (Kansas) and finally MCAS Cherry Point (North Carolina) for his final two years as a GCA Operator. Bob was hired by the FAA on April 30th, 1963. He was a Control Tower Operator in the Twin Cities, Janesville, Chicago and then again in the Twin Cities. Bob met Charlotte (Freeman) Schell near Madison, Wisconsin when he was weathered during a fishing trip (grounded from flying due to weather conditions) to Canada in May, 1970. Bob and Charlotte married on September 10th, 1971. Charlotte had two children by a previous marriage, Terrie and James Schell, so Bob had a "ready made family". Later, they added on more to the family, Roberta Olson. Bob remained an air traffic controller until the PATCO strike walkout on August 3, 1981. Beginning in 1982, Bob and Char owned a campground near Alma Center, Wisconsin until Bob went back to work for the IRS in 1987, retiring in 1995. Bob and Char then moved to Prairie Lake near Cameron and then to near Rice Lake in 2006.
Bob and Family
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, brothers: Dwayne & Tom Olson & sister: Delores Brant. He is survived by his wife: Charlotte of Rice Lake, son: James (Michelle) Schell of Racine, daughters: Terrie (Roger) Hicks of Barron & Roberta (Ian) Olson of St. Paul, MN, grandchildren: Aaron Hicks, Michael Schell, Justin Hicks, Allen, Charles, Meredith, Patrick & Jenelle Schell, sisters: Carol (Dennis) Stanley of Buffalo, MN, Sharon (Jerry) Schultz of Montevideo, MN, Mary Kontz of Buffalo, MN, Beth Gillis of Virginia Beach, VA, Peggy (Linnae) Mead of Sauk Centre, MN & Deb Anderson of Bufalo, MN, as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives & friends.
Funeral Services
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 13th at Bethany Lutheran Church in Rice Lake with Rev. Grant Aaseng officiating. Visitation will be for the hour prior to services at the church. Interment will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 15th at Northern WI Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery at Spooner. Arrangements are with Rausch-Lundeen Funeral Homes, Cameron & Dallas.
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