Roll Call Tribute

Milford Eugene "Gene" Olson 

August 22, 1935 - September 11, 2024 

Milford Eugene Olson (Gene to all that knew him) was born August 22nd, 1935, to Milford Emmanuel Olson and Mildred Dorothy Olson (nee Jones) in Holdrege, Nebraska. Accepting Christ as his Lord and Savior very early in life, his fondest memories were of time on his family farm and shortly thereafter in Bock, Minnesota where his father served as a pastor in the Evangelical Free Church as a newly ordained minister. Their family then moved to Polk, Nebraska. Later, when his father pastored a church on the south side of Chicago, Gene graduated from Bowen High School in 1953.

In 1958, while serving in the Army National Guard, he met Nancy Elizabeth Rice, a nursing student in Chicago. Two years later they married. When their first child was born, Gene knew he needed a college degree to adequately care for his family. After a year at LeTourneau College in Longview, Texas he attended Texas A&M University and earned an Aerospace Engineering Degree in 1966 and his Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1967.

Following graduation, his employment moved the family to San Diego, CA, Cincinnati, OH, Dearborn, MI and Ft Wayne, IN. In Dearborn he worked at the Ford Motor Company Technical Center bringing aerodynamics to the automotive industry. In Ft Wayne he worked for International Harvester (which became Navistar International) bringing aerodynamics to the trucking industry as well. He has received many patents through his endeavors.

Gene and Nancy retired to the shores of their beloved Lake Superior in 1999 on the land that had been in Nancy’s family since the 1950’s. His passions in life were his love for Jesus, his wife and family, music and music ministry, Cubs baseball and his beloved alma mater, Texas A&M.

Gene is survived by his wife of 64 years, Nancy Elizabeth Olson, his children, Steven Olson (Krista), Randall Olson (Dani), Nancy Sutton (Tony); Grandchildren Austin Barnes, Kyle Barnes, Brian Barnes, Steve Olson, Leah Olson, Bjorn Olson; Great Grandchildren Samuel Barnes, Amy Barnes and Westley Barnes. He is also survived by his sister Marilyn Stranberg, and brothers James and Daniel Olson.

Gene passed away the evening of Sept 11th, 2024, with his wife by his side.