Vernon H. Olsen

An old duffer tapped in his final putt and headed for that great 19th hole in the sky. Vernon H. Olsen passed away April 26, 2015, surrounded by his loving family. For 88 years, Vern lived a wonderful life enriched by the love of family, faith and country.

He was born May 14, 1926 in Powhattan, KS, the oldest of four children to Hans Christian (aka H.C.) and Ruth (Ross) Olsen. Vern grew up on the eighty acre farm in Hiawatha, KS and attended a country grade school close by. He graduated from Powhatton High School at the age of 17, traveling to Minnesota to work till he could enlist at 18 in the U.S. Navy in August, 1944. He went to basic training in Great Lakes IL, and trained in gunnery maintenance before receiving his orders to go overseas. Experiencing different cultures and witnessing poverty and human suffering left an imprint on him and made him appreciate what he had and thankful that he lived in America. He had several jobs while serving on both the LCI 24 and 29 and the LST 585, but the one he spoke of the most was when he was the lookout for floating mines on the ocean’s surface. Vernon had to be on his toes and avoid putting the ship in danger. In one horrific incident, he was nearly drowned when there was a hurricane. This story would be the one that always gave him pause as to why God had spared his life whereas others were not so lucky.

Upon his release in 1946, he attended K State earning a degree in agricultural engineering. After graduating in 1950, he began his career in the seed business becoming a salesman and eventually plant manager. On June 7, 1952 he married the love of his life, Letoy LaClair and together they raised six children. They originally lived in St. Joseph then due to job changes, moved to Grinnell IA, Trenton MO and in 1976, finally settled down in Maryville MO.
He loved hunting and would say that he never ever had difficulty falling asleep as all he would do is think about one of his best days out hunting pheasant and he would fall asleep happy. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, card playing and “going on a lark” (aka casino). One of his favorite pastimes was striking up a conversation with anyone everywhere he went. He has left a wonderful example to all that knew him how to face adversity head on and overcome any difficulties life throws you by having a positive attitude. His wife will say that she can “write a book” filled with funny stories that have accumulated over the years about Dad and his crazy happenstances. We will miss his laugh most of all.

Survivors include his wife, Letoy, his children, Debbie (Kenny) Thompson, Nancy (Ed) Caddell, Gail (Rob) Schultz, Brian (Jan) Olsen, Chris (Caroline) Olsen, and Matt (Colleen) Olsen along with seventeen grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren, and brothers Claire (Carolyn) Olsen and Bob Olsen.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister Doris Eames.

Family and Parish Rosary service will be Wednesday at 6:00 PM, with visitation to follow at the Bram-Danfelt Funeral Home, Maryville, MO.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 AM, on Thursday, April 30, 2015, at the St. Gregory’s Catholic Church in Maryville, MO.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to St. Gregory’s Church or Asera Care Hospice,301 E Price Ave, Ste B Savannah MO, 64485.