Gene Allen Olsen
September 5, 1933 — September 21, 2022
Gene Allen Olsen was born on September 5, 1933 in Hancock, Iowa to Ralph and Bernice (Gress) Olsen. He attended Hancock United Methodist church growing up and graduated from Hancock High School in 1951.
Gene enlisted in the United States Army on May 17, 1954 in Council Bluffs and was stationed in Fort Ord, California and Japan, until his separation to the Army Reserve on May 3, 1956. On September 29, 1956 Gene was united in marriage to Marilyn Russmann, they were married almost 50 years until Marilyn's death in 2006.
Gene spent most of his life working as an independent contractor at the company he started, Olsen Construction. In 1990 he celebrated 25 years in business. He also worked on farms, building railroads, as a surveyor for soil conservation, for the Metropolitan Utility District and taught building construction trade classes at IWCC. Gene was active in his community, serving as Mayor of Hancock for 12 years, President of the QB club, little league coach, and a member of the Hancock City Council and was a member of the Hancock American Legion Post No. 720 for 43 years. He served on the Conservation Board, even serving two terms as president of the State Conservation Board from 1997-1998. Gene loved to vacation with his family in Okoboji and Canada. He also loved to hunt, fish and play slow and fast pitch softball.
On Wednesday, September 21, 2022 Gene passed away at Avoca Specialty Care having attained the age of 89 years and 16 days. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Marilyn, son Lonnie and brother Larry.
Left to cherish his memory here on earth are his children Gene (Teresa) Olsen Jr. of Leon, Iowa; Ron (Deb) Olsen of Hancock, Iowa; Sherry (Ken) Knowles of Treynor, Iowa; 7 grandchildren: Jill (John) Manternach of Des Moines, Iowa; Brad Olsen of Griswold, Iowa; Jay Olsen of Des Moines, Iowa; Megan (Rodney) Hackwell of Walnut, Iowa; Dan (Jennifer) Nielsen of Treynor, Iowa; Jessica (Julius) Woolfolk of Little Rock, Arkansas; Loni Olsen of Leon, Iowa; 11 great-grandchildren; sister Leta Mae Hoagland of Omaha, Nebraska; other family and many friends.
Gene enlisted in the United States Army on May 17, 1954 in Council Bluffs and was stationed in Fort Ord, California and Japan, until his separation to the Army Reserve on May 3, 1956. On September 29, 1956 Gene was united in marriage to Marilyn Russmann, they were married almost 50 years until Marilyn's death in 2006.
Gene spent most of his life working as an independent contractor at the company he started, Olsen Construction. In 1990 he celebrated 25 years in business. He also worked on farms, building railroads, as a surveyor for soil conservation, for the Metropolitan Utility District and taught building construction trade classes at IWCC. Gene was active in his community, serving as Mayor of Hancock for 12 years, President of the QB club, little league coach, and a member of the Hancock City Council and was a member of the Hancock American Legion Post No. 720 for 43 years. He served on the Conservation Board, even serving two terms as president of the State Conservation Board from 1997-1998. Gene loved to vacation with his family in Okoboji and Canada. He also loved to hunt, fish and play slow and fast pitch softball.
On Wednesday, September 21, 2022 Gene passed away at Avoca Specialty Care having attained the age of 89 years and 16 days. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Marilyn, son Lonnie and brother Larry.
Left to cherish his memory here on earth are his children Gene (Teresa) Olsen Jr. of Leon, Iowa; Ron (Deb) Olsen of Hancock, Iowa; Sherry (Ken) Knowles of Treynor, Iowa; 7 grandchildren: Jill (John) Manternach of Des Moines, Iowa; Brad Olsen of Griswold, Iowa; Jay Olsen of Des Moines, Iowa; Megan (Rodney) Hackwell of Walnut, Iowa; Dan (Jennifer) Nielsen of Treynor, Iowa; Jessica (Julius) Woolfolk of Little Rock, Arkansas; Loni Olsen of Leon, Iowa; 11 great-grandchildren; sister Leta Mae Hoagland of Omaha, Nebraska; other family and many friends.
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