SR0131 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0131 LRB098 10687 GRL 40993 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Robert F. "Oly" Olson of Broadwell, who passed away on January 9, 2013; and

WHEREAS, Robert Olson was born on June 8, 1930, in Lincoln; his parents were Alfred and Mildred (Amberg) Olson; he married Norma (Shorty) Jean Van Fossen on December 12, 1957; and

WHEREAS, Robert Olson was raised in Broadwell and attended Elkhart Community High School; he subsequently attended the University of Illinois through his junior year; and

WHEREAS, Robert Olson was a veteran of the Korean War, having served in the United States Army Corps of Engineers from 1951 to 1953; after obtained his basic training at Ft. Riley, Kansas, he was stationed in Alaska; and

WHEREAS, After his stint in the Army, Robert Olson worked as a carpenter and operated a service station in Elkhart; after college, he managed an office for the USDA in Belleville; in 1960, an opportunity to return to farming in Logan County presented itself and he began his career in "the best job" he could ever want; he established a Farm Management Service and managed farms for absentee landowners; he was also one of the founders of the Elkhart Community Bank and served on the Board of Directors for the Elkhart and Illini Banks; and

WHEREAS, In 1986, Robert Olson was appointed to fill a vacancy as Representative in the Illinois General Assembly; following his appointment, he served in the General Assembly with distinction for 9 years until his retirement in 1994; and

WHEREAS, Robert Olson enjoyed working at his homestead in Broadwell, gardening, reading, history, traveling the United States, and collecting antiques; and

WHEREAS, Robert Olson was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Elkhart Legion Post 616, Lincoln Elks 914, and the 40 & 8 Club; and

WHEREAS, Robert Olson is survived by his wife; his children, Robert (Dee) Olson, Nancy (Kevin) Courtwright, Susan (Bryan) Johnston, James (Ann) Olson, and Sandra Tiffany; his grandchildren, Madeline Olson, Kasey and Kylie (Fricke) Courtwright, Jason and Leslie (Pfeifer) Johnston, Abby, Jake, and Betsy Olson, and Elaine, Sam, Will, and Adrienne Tiffany; his great-grandchildren, Lexi Chambers, Kallie Courtwright, and Nolan Pfeifer; his sister, Mary Ann (Verne) Garrison; and his brother, David (Lois) Olson; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Robert F. "Oly" Olson; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Robert F. "Oly" Olson as an expression of our sympathy.