J Christopher Olesen
October 10, 1944 — December 6, 2016
J Christopher “J C.” Olesen was born on October 10, 1944, in Waco, Texas, the son of Herbert Carl and Eleanor Lucille Wild Olesen. He was a 1962 graduate of AvoHa High School in Avoca, Iowa, and attended Midland College in Fremont, Nebraska, for one year. J C. joined the US Air Force on September 7, 1965, and was stationed at McGuire Air Force Base New Jersey, where he worked with C130s on the flight line. While in New Jersey, J C. met Wilma Charlotte Armet and they later married on August 9, 1970, at Bayonne, New Jersey. To this union were born three children, J Christopher II, Jeremy Brett and Brandi Jayne.
Following the Air Force, J C. owned and operated a specialty parts company in New Hampshire. In 1975, J C. joined his father at Olesen Chevrolet-Oldsmobile in Avoca, becoming the fourth generation to work at the dealership. J C. retired in 2009 but still visited the shop almost daily.
J C. was a car man. He enjoyed restoring vehicles and always had a project underway. In high school, he was a member of the Coachman Car Club. J C. also enjoyed attending NASCAR races, playing golf, and especially attending Jimmy Buffett concerts with family. He was a former member of Rotary, served as a Boy Scout leader and was a member of the Iowa Automobile Dealers Association.
J C. was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Dementia in 2009 and Lewy Body Dementia in 2015. As a result of his illness, J C. was able to donate his brain after death to the Human Brain and Spinal Fluid Resource Center at UCLA in Los Angeles, California, for scientific and medical research.
On Tuesday, December 6, 2016, J C. died surrounded by family while a resident at Salem Lutheran Homes in Elk Horn, Iowa. He had attained the age of seventy-two years, one month, and twenty-six days. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandchildren Parker Olesen and Baby Schuknecht.
J C. is survived by his wife of forty-six years, Wilma “Willie” Olesen of Avoca; sons, J Christopher Olesen II and his wife Tonya of Avoca, and Jeremy Brett Olesen and his wife Amy of Altoona, Iowa; daughter Brandi Jayne and her husband Wade Schuknecht of Maple Grove, Minnesota; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; brother, Willard Olesen and his wife Susan of Greenfield, Iowa; sister, Catherine Olesen of Greenfield, Iowa; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
As a show of sympathy and to honor J C., the family requests those attending wear bright clothing to celebrate his life. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions should be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Iowa. Click on link to make a donation: http://www.alz.org/greateriowa/in_my_community_donate.asp
Following the Air Force, J C. owned and operated a specialty parts company in New Hampshire. In 1975, J C. joined his father at Olesen Chevrolet-Oldsmobile in Avoca, becoming the fourth generation to work at the dealership. J C. retired in 2009 but still visited the shop almost daily.
J C. was a car man. He enjoyed restoring vehicles and always had a project underway. In high school, he was a member of the Coachman Car Club. J C. also enjoyed attending NASCAR races, playing golf, and especially attending Jimmy Buffett concerts with family. He was a former member of Rotary, served as a Boy Scout leader and was a member of the Iowa Automobile Dealers Association.
J C. was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Dementia in 2009 and Lewy Body Dementia in 2015. As a result of his illness, J C. was able to donate his brain after death to the Human Brain and Spinal Fluid Resource Center at UCLA in Los Angeles, California, for scientific and medical research.
On Tuesday, December 6, 2016, J C. died surrounded by family while a resident at Salem Lutheran Homes in Elk Horn, Iowa. He had attained the age of seventy-two years, one month, and twenty-six days. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandchildren Parker Olesen and Baby Schuknecht.
J C. is survived by his wife of forty-six years, Wilma “Willie” Olesen of Avoca; sons, J Christopher Olesen II and his wife Tonya of Avoca, and Jeremy Brett Olesen and his wife Amy of Altoona, Iowa; daughter Brandi Jayne and her husband Wade Schuknecht of Maple Grove, Minnesota; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; brother, Willard Olesen and his wife Susan of Greenfield, Iowa; sister, Catherine Olesen of Greenfield, Iowa; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
As a show of sympathy and to honor J C., the family requests those attending wear bright clothing to celebrate his life. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions should be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Iowa. Click on link to make a donation: http://www.alz.org/greateriowa/in_my_community_donate.asp
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