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SHERBURN -- A celebration of life service for Robert "Bob" Russell Olson, 95, of rural Sherburn, Minn., will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Trimont, Minn., with Pastor Kelly France officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, rural Trimont, Minn. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at Kramer Funeral Home in Trimont, and one hour prior to the service Sunday at the church. Messages of sympathy can be sent the family online at www.kramerfuneralhome.com.
Robert Russell Olson was born Oct. 11, 1927, to Knute and Josephine (Johnson) Olson in Mountain Lake, Minn. Bob passed away Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, surrounded by family. In those 95 years a lot of life happened and a lot of laughter. Bob attended country school #84, and according to him he walked uphill both ways, never mind that the school was literally halfway down the lane where he grew up. Bob went on to attend Triumph-Monterey High School, graduating in 1945. Bob went on to serve in the U.S. Navy until April of 1947. According to Bob he wasn't sure if it really counted as serving since he was "just" on a mine sweeper at the end of the war. That was Bob, always humble, always making a joke. It was that charming personality that had him walking down the aisle with Katy Gaalswyk on Nov. 13, 1948, at Emmanuel Evangelical United Brethren Church in rural Welcome, where they attended until it closed. Bob and Katy went on to have five children and farmed together side-by-side in Fox Lake Township until they retired in 1986. In their 63 years together before Katy passed away in August of 2011, their life was filled with family, friends, and lots of adventure. Their motto was always work hard, play hard, and include everyone you can. Chances are that if you knew Bob you were one of those who were included in that hard work; he was never afraid to show someone how that was done. Or perhaps you were included on one of the many motorcycle, snowmobile, or ski trips and maybe you even got included in on the collect call he made to his banker every New Years Eve where everyone was encouraged to talk to increase the bill, and if so you know the saying of Bob's "you know who's paying for this, right?" Perhaps you saw Bob on the golf course. He enjoyed the game, but he loved being with his friends. The excitement of him discovering exploding and other trick golf balls to bring to the game was the day he fell in love with golf. Bob was known for his pranks, whether it was steel wheels to put on a newlyweds car or his friends cars while at card parties, delivering ponies as Santa to unsuspecting friends children, putting up a homemade "Time and Temp" sign at the local bank, or other notorious pranks, Bob always kept you on your toes. Bob had many hobbies including boating, flying planes, building and flying ultralight planes, sailing, canoeing, snowmobiling, skiing, motorcycling, fishing, collecting things, putting up lots and lots of Christmas lights, making sure all of his tools were painted green and yellow, saving and raising abandoned or injured wildlife, mowing everyone lawns, inventing new contraptions, and always keeping life interesting.
Bob's sense of humor, kind and caring nature towards people and animals alike, respect for the land, his sense of adventure, and prankster shenanigans will be missed by all that knew him. Bob will be greatly missed by all including his children, Cindy (Dean) Sinn of rural Trimont, Minn., Shirley (Dick) Pooley of Fairmont, Minn., Robin White of rural Sherburn, Minn., Kent Olson of rural Sherburn, Minn., Amy Olson of Broomfield, Colo.; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; Jeff and Beth Sinn, (Tyler and Ali, Corbyn, Sawyer and Elliot) Jake and Becca, (Aubrey) and Tanner, Ryan Sinn and Maggie Kukar, Kelly and Grant Carlson (Ella, Madelyn and Jack), Tami and Al Risk, (Jordan), Kristin and Jon Janson (Anissa and Tyler Hartwig, (Liam and Lilyth) (Kalley and Nathan Meyer) J.R. and Rachel Pooley (Levi, Brayden), Teresa Pooley (Johnathan), Justin and Wendy White, (Beckett, Ramsey and Jensyn) Aaron White, Amanda Olson, Matt Olson, Luke Bloomquist (Eli), Danielle Bloomquist, Alex and Taylor Carpenter (Graham), Madison and Nick Mahle (Miles, Maddox, Merrick and Monroe), Isaac Bloomquist; sisters-in-law, Mary Jane Gaalswyk, and Clarice Gaalswyk; and other relatives. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Knute and Josephine Olson; mother and father-in-law, Cornelia and Cornelius Gaalswyk; wife, Katy Olson; grandson, Josh Olson; sister, Rachel Gaalswyk; brothers and sisters-in-law, John Gaalswyk, Henry Gaalswyk, Greta and Harold Jagodzinske, Marie Uhlig, Tennis, Peter, Marion, Casey, Arie and Jake Gaalswyk, Wilamina, Merle, Corolyn, LaVonne, Henriette Gaalswyk; nephew, Daniel Gaalswyk; niece, Deborah Gaalswyk; and other relatives.