Surnames: Olson, Johnstone, Wieland, Thurs, Gustafson, Johnson, Wiedenhoeft, Ewert, Meyer, Binning, Edblom, Justman, Carlson, Steinke, Thorsen

----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 12/01/1949

Olson, J. A. Rev. (26 Oct. 1888 - 24 Nov. 1949)

Rev. J. A. Olson of Unity, Wisconsin died at 2:35 A.M. Thanksgiving Day at the age of 61 years, a heart attack being the cause of his death. He was on his way to Marshfield to meet his son, Paul, who was returning home from Minneapolis. He was accompanied by his wife at the time. Funeral services were held at the Trinity Lutheran church in Unity Sunday afternoon, Rev. Theodore Johnstone of Ironwood, Mich., officiating, and burial was made in the parish cemetery. Pall bearers were Walter Wieland, August Thurs, Seymour Gustafson, Alfred Johnson, Gilbert Wiedenhoeft, and Lester Ewert. Honorary pall bearers were Frank Meyer, Henry Binning, Clarence and Arthur Edblom and A. W. and Roy Justman.

The deceased was born October 26, 1888, at Crystal Falls, Michigan. When a youth, he moved to Norway, Mich., with his parents and, later, worked at a sampler in the iron mines in the northern part of that state. He was married to Esther Carlson October 25, 1917, at Marquette, Mich., and then served with the armed forces in World War I. He attended college and seminary at Rock Island, Mich., and was ordained at Omaha, Neb., in June 1927, arriving in Unity the next month. He served as pastor of Trinity Lutheran church since that time except for three and one-half years when he served as pastor at Wadena, Minn. He served as chaplain of the American Legion post at Unity for many years and was a member of the Clark County Lutheran Pastors Association.

Surviving are his wife and four children - Bartlett of Milwaukee, Mrs. Marvin (Isabelle) Steinke of Wisconsin Rapids and Paul and Sharon at home. Brothers and sisters living are Arthur and Mrs. Hilma Thorsen of Negunee, Mich., and Bernie of Beaver Dam.