George Olson

George was born to Adolph and Emma Olson on a farm in western Wisconsin, the fifth of their seven children. He delayed attending college to help tend the family farm while two of his older brothers fought in World War II. George graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College and attended Augustana Lutheran Seminary. He was ordained and got married one week later; the couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last year. Pastor Olson first served Sunne Lutheran in Wilton, ND. Subsequently, he was called to a two-point parish in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, which included Calvary Lutheran in Rapid River and Trinity Lutheran in Stonington. His final call was to Peshtigo, WI, as the inaugural pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran, a merger of the Swedish and Norwegian Lutheran churches that had existed for 100 years one block apart. He successfully led the building project that yielded Good Shepherd’s current structure. At the time of his death, Pastor Olson was the oldest ordained minister in the ELCA’s Northern Great Lakes Synod. George trained as a floral designer and, once retired, embarked on a satisfying second 17 year career at Everard’s Flowers. He enjoyed traveling, spending time with family, and especially summers at his beloved cabin in the U.P.

George is survived by his devoted wife, three children, three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by, well, pretty much everyone.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services) or Doctors Without Borders would be appreciated. Hansen-Onion-Martell funeral home, Marinette, WI is handling the arrangements.