Gary G. Olson of Berthoud died July 7, 2011 at Hospice Care Center in Louisville, after gallantly fighting colon cancer since the spring of 2004. He was 71.
Gary was born in Longmont to Gilman E. and Margaret (Baker) Olson. He grew up and worked on the family farm in rural Mead.
Gary attended Mead Schools and was the bus driver his senior year. After his high school graduation in 1957, Gary received his Masters degree in 1963 from CSU and his Doctorate in chemistry in 1967 from Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR. After Gary’s graduation from Oregon, he returned and lived in Broomfield and worked at Rocky Flats.
Gary married Carol A. Carney in San Marino, CA on March 8, 1969. They moved to Longmont in 1978 and then to rural Berthoud in 1985, where they raised their children to adulthood.
Gary was Owner and President of OWL Technical Associates of Longmont from which he retired. He was involved in creating “drift tools” and other technical instruments for various industries including the sugar beet industry which involved national and international travel. He was also a computer and networking consultant for local companies. Gary and his brother Roger formed Olson Bros and annexed the family farm (Margil Farms) to Mead and had farming interests in rural Johnstown as well.
He was on the Board of Directors for Little Thompson Water District and Carter Lake Filter Plant. Gary was also a life-long member of First Evangelical Lutheran Church. He enjoyed piloting small planes, and was a model railroad enthusiast. Gary was an avid reader and enjoyed camping and traveling with Carol including numerous trips to Europe and Hawaii. Gary loved his family, especially his grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gilman and Margaret Olson and his niece, Ann Marie Olson.
Gary is survived by his wife Carol of Berthoud; his son, Philip G. Olson (Marcia) of Grand Junction; granddaughters, Natalie, Abigail, Margaret, and Brianna Olson; his daughter, Nancy E. Schuetz (Mark) of Colorado Springs; granddaughters, Lauren, Erica and Anna and grandson, Avery Schuetz; brother Roger E. Olson (Dixie) of Johnstown; several nieces and cousins.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Longmont.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Gary’s memory may be made to First Evangelical Lutheran Church or to the American Cancer Society for colorectal cancer research.
Checks may be made out to “First Evangelical Lutheran Church” with “Gary Olson” in the memo and mailed to:
First Lutheran Church
PO Box 327
Longmont, CO 80502-0327
-OR-
Checks may be made out to “American Cancer Society” with “Gary Olson for Colorectal Cancer Research” in the memo and mailed to:
American Cancer Society
8221 West 20th St., Suite A
Greeley, CO 80634
This page was updated on October23, 2011