Harold J. "Jerry" Olsen
d. September 30, 2008
Harold J. “Jerry” Olsen, 80, a resident of Blue Grass, Iowa died on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at Manor Care Nursing Center in Davenport, Iowa following an extended illness.
His funeral service will be held at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, October 4, 2008 at the McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Chapel in Bettendorf, Iowa. Burial will be in Blue Grass Cemetery where military honors will be conducted. Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the family.
He was born May 19, 1928 in Davenport, Iowa, the son of Harold J. & Hazel (Fullmer) Olsen. On October 16, 1982, he was united in marriage to Barbara M. Bloom in Davenport.
Jerry served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and upon his honorable discharge in 1952, he was awarded the Occupation Medal of Japan, the United Nations Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, the Combat Infantry Badge and one Overseas Bar.
He worked for the former Buffalo Cement Plant, now known as LaFarge North America for 40 years, retiring in 1988.
Jerry was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Davenport and the Blue Grass American Legion Post 711.
During his spare time, he enjoyed working on and restoring cars & motorcycles, traveling and watching NASCAR
Those left to honor his memory include his beloved wife, Barbara; his children, Steve Olsen of Muscatine, Iowa, Scott Olsen of Muscatine and Denise (Lee) Fowler of Blue Grass; his grandchildren, Jessica, Jamie, Stephanie, Brandon, Maddison & Amy; his great-grandson, Dylan; his sisters, Mildred Lowder of Davenport, Velma (Allen) Parish of Erie, Colorado, Juanita (Delmer) Barefoot of Raeford, North Carolina and Anna (Kenny) Thiessen of Buffalo, Iowa; his brother, Otto (Delores) Olsen of Buffalo; his mother-in-law, Dorothy Bloom of Blue Grass and his beloved dogs, “Harley” and the late, “Snowball.”
His grandson, Zachary Fowler; his brother, John Olsen; his brother-in-law, Joe Lowder; and his father-in-law, Harold Bloom, preceded Jerry in death.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the wonderful staff of Manor Care for their loving and compassionate care and their deep gratitude to his sister-in-law, Bernice, to Amanda and to Darla for being so supportive during Jerry’s illness.