Surnames: Olson, Lau, Skinner

----Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark Co., Wis.) 02/17/1944

Olson, Mervin #2 (13 NOV 1919 - 13 FEB 1944)

This community was shocked to learn of the death of Mervin Olson early Monday morning at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Marshfield, from injuries suffered about 1:00 o’clock on Sunday morning on highway N, two miles east of Colby, Wis. According to Marathon County Traffic Officer John Nutter, Olson was attempting to pass two other cars when he apparently lost control of his automobile. The car traveled for some distance on the left shoulder and then swerved directly across the road, striking the bank and throwing Olson out of the car against a telephone pole.

He was taken to the Colby clinic by Roger Stoffel for medical attention then rushed to the hospital, when he was found to have suffered a broken neck and other injuries.

Olson lived on the home farm three-fourths of a mile north of Curtiss with his sister and brother in law, Mr. and Mrs. Chet Lau, and was operating the farm on which he was born on Nov. 13, 1919, where he lived his entire life.

He is survived by his mother, Mrs. James Skinner of Burlington; a brother, Pfc. Wayne Olson, now in Australia; and sister, Mrs. Chet (Elda) Lau. His father passed away in 1929. Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, Feb. 17, at 1:30 p.m., from the home and 2:00 p.m. from the Evangelical Lutheran church, the Rev. G. E. Borreson officiating.