William "Bill" Olson

William T. “Bill” Olson, age 85, passed way Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at Colfax Health and Rehab Center. He was born on September 16, 1927 in Duluth Minnesota to Carl William and Ada Mae (Tabor) Olson. In 1945 Bill graduate of Osceola High School where he first met his English teacher and later wife of 64 years Alice Boardman. He proudly served his country as a member of the US Navy both during WWII and the Korean Conflict. Bill married Alice on June 22, 1948 in New Richmond, Wisconsin. He attended mortuary school and worked as a funeral director in Osceola, Madison, Waterloo, and then in 1951 came to Bloomer and worked for Henry Werner. In 1954 he purchased the business and it became Olson Funeral Home. Bill thought of the funeral business as a ministry and he truly loved helping others. He was a member of the Wisconsin Funeral Director’s Association for 62 years. He believed in supporting the community and was a founding member of the Bloomer Chamber of Commerce, Bloomer IDC, and was on the visionary committee for the Bloomer Hospital. Bill was not only a member, but served in leadership roles in many local organizations including: Bloomer American Legion, Masonic Lodge, The York Rite, the Consistory, Shrine Club, Lion’s Club, Moose Lodge, and the Kiwanis. He was a “Flaming Methodist” and was a member of the church council for 50 years and served as the treasurer for 46 years. Alice and Bill traveled the countryside to find a place to dance or to ride horses. His true joy was his family, friends, and his farm, spending countless hours riding and training horses, cutting trails and chopping wood. He built the barns on the farm from old telephone poles and lumber cut from the woods on the property. There was never a “short story” with Bill, there was always a parable or witty remark in every conversation. He loved hearing the life stories of others and where they came from. He was a true humanitarian and touched every person who met him. He will truly be missed.

He is survived by his wife Alice of Bloomer; son David (Karin) Olson of Bloomer; daughter: Debbie (Jeff) Davis of Prescott; six grandchildren: Katie (Justin) Paki, Benjamin (Abbi) Olson, Emily Price, Meghan Olson, Amanda (Clayton) Hinds, Erin (Cory) Franson; two great-grandchildren: Isaac Hinds and Noah Olson-with 2 more on the way; two foreign exchange students: Kay Lass or Germany and Rune Hennigson of Norway ; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters: Jean Reynolds and Frances Olson; numerous horses, dogs and other four legged friends.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 22, 2012 at 11:00 AM at the United Methodist Church in Bloomer. A visitation will be held at Olson Funeral Home on Sunday, October 21, 2012 from 4:00-8:00 PM with a Masonic Service at 8:00 PM. Interment will take place at Bloomer Cemetery with military rites performed by the Bloomer American Legion and VFW following the service. Please direct memorials to the Bloomer United Methodist Church or one of Bill’s organizations. A heartfelt thank you from the family to the entire staff of Colfax Health and Rehab center, Bill truly enjoyed his time there.

Bills Funeral Video Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwYVJgVkXXc&feature=em-share_video_user