Howard Olson

He was born March 4, 1928 in Knapp to Martha (Tietz) and Albert J. "A.J." Olson. He attended grade school in Knapp; junior high and high school in Chippewa Falls, graduating with honors, class of 1945.

Howard served in the U.S. Navy during WWII.

He married Joanne M. Sippy on January 10, 1948 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Chippewa Falls. The couple resided in Chippewa Falls.

He attended Dairy Management School at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, then graduated from I.A.S. Accounting Correspondence School in Chicago; and in 1945, joined his father, Albert and brother, Raymond Olson in the family business, Olson's Creamland Dairy. In 1960, Albert retired and Howard became president and manager of the firm and they became a successful bottler and distributor of milk and other dairy products in the Chippewa Valley.

In 1980, Howard's son, David joined the family business and the name was changed to Olson's Ice Cream. In 1993, Howard retired after 58 years of making ice cream. He continued to visit the shop often, for a cup of coffee and to sample new flavors.

Howard was very active in the Chippewa Falls community. He was a 60+ years member of Trinity United Methodist Church; a life member of the Chippewa Falls Elks Lodge; charter member of the Chippewa Falls Lions Club; a member of the American Legion Post 77. He was a past member of Chippewa Falls Main Street Assoc., Chippewa Falls Chamber of Commerce; Rotary Club, U.C.T and Western Wisconsin Dairy Technology Assoc.

From 1971 - 1981, he was also active in city government, serving as alderman; council president; member of the planning commission; board member of the public works and housing authority; served on the Chippewa police and fire commission; was past president of the Industrial Development Corp (I.D.C.); member of the school board of fiscal control; city representative on the West Central Wisconsin regional planning commission; and served one term as Mayor of the city of Chippewa Falls.

Survivors include: his wife, Joanne; a son, David (Mary) Olson; a daughter, Susan (Ken) Mullen, all of Chippewa Falls; sisters, Elfreda Burich, Norma (Don) Frenette, all of Chippewa Falls; brother, Gordon (Lorraine) Olson of Oshkosh; grandchildren, Mark Mullen, Paul (Anwen) Mullen, Kelsey Mullen, Patrick Olson and John Olson; and two great-grandsons, Lewis and Willem Mullen.

He was predeceased by his parents; two brothers, V. Stanley and Raymond Olson; a sister, Lorraine Devine; and brothers-in-law, Jim Devine and Tony Burich.

At the family's request, a private service for Howard will be held.

Memorials in Howard's honor may be designated to the Howard and Joanne Olson Family Endowment Fund; c/o the Community Foundation of Chippewa County, P.O. Box 153, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729.

Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel, Chippewa Falls is serving the Olson family.

Visit pedersonvolker.com to express online condolences.

Special quotes from Howard