Gayle "Oly" Olson

A celebration of life service for Gayle "Oly" Olson will be held on Monday, August 10, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Lawrence Francis officiating.  At the conclusion of the services, flag folding and taps will be conducted by the United States Army Military Honor Team.  A private family inurnment will be held at a later date.

Gayle "Oly" Olson, died peacefully August 5, 2015, in his home on Morton Street in Holdrege. "Oly," as his friends would later call him, was born at Brewster Hospital in Holdrege on July 21, 1933 and then brought home to the house his grandfather built, the same home on Morton Street where Oly died at the age of 82 years.

George O. and Anna "Louise" (Freed) raised Oly and his younger brother, Wayne, south of Sacramento, Nebraska. Oly developed his strong work ethic early on the farm, missing school at age six to drive a tractor while many of the farmhands in Phelps County served in World War II.  Later, Camp Atlanta provided prisoners of war to work on his father's farm and he often recounted how his mother would pile their plates full of food since the guards would not allow them to eat inside the farmers' homes.  At the grocery store at Sacramento (now The Speakeasy), Oly stocked goods on the shelves, earning his first paid wages.

The Olson family eventually moved into the house on Morton Street.  In fact, Oly remembered using the first bell at the old Holdrege High School as his alarm clock to wake up for classes in the morning.  It was when he attended high school that Oly began his career as a truck driver; in the middle of the night several nights a week, he would drive around the county picking up milk cans from area farms.  With his earnings, he bought his first motorcycle and his 1952 Hudson Hornet.

Oly enlisted in the U.S. Army on May 29, 1953 and trained to be a radio operator.  His skill at Morse code and radio repair led to his deployment to Korea during the Korean War.  After his discharge from active service in 1955, he continued in the National Guard until 1959, receiving an honorable discharge as a Master Sergeant.  He remained best friends with some of his fellow servicemen for the duration of his life.

On August 6, 1953, Oly was united in marriage to Alyce Brown of Holdrege.  To this union, four children were born: Kenneth, Julie, Michael, and Cheryl.  The couple made their home north of Holdrege.

Oly later moved to Elm Creek, Nebraska, and drove truck for Ouradas.  He met Claire (Martindale) Olson and they had one child together, Elena.  Eventually, Claire joined Oly on the road and they earned the Nebraska Motor Carrier Association Drivers of the Month Award in July 1989.  Before he hung up the keys to his truck, he had driven more than 13 million miles without an accident.  After their retirement, Oly and Claire continued their journey together, traveling all over the country and spending winters in Picacho, Arizona.

Oly enjoyed playing pool with his son, Kenny, watching Tiger Woods play golf, listening to big band and polka music, playing logic games like Sudoku and free cell, and completing crossword puzzles.  He loved spending time with his grandsons and his granddaughter, long weekends with his friends, and traveling with Claire.

Oly was preceded in death by his son, Kenny Olson and his parents.  He leaves to celebrate his life; his wife, Claire Olson of Holdrege; daughter, Julie Olson of Aurora, Colorado; daughter, Cheryl Lipan and her husband, Jim of Littleton, Colorado; son, Michael Olson of Aurora, Colorado; daughter, Elena King and her husband, Micheal of Holdrege; his daughter-in-law, Sheryl Olson of Holdrege; six grandchildren: Brenton Olson, Michael Carstens, Angela Olson, Isaac Lipan, Matthew King, and Benjamin King; his brother, Wayne Olson and wife, Dorothy; four nephews and nieces; numerous cousins, relatives, and friends.

A memorial book signing will be held on Sunday, August 9, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Gayle's honor and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.