CASHTON, Wis. – Walter M. Olson, 91, originally from Cashton, Wis., and formerly of Warsaw, passed away Jan. 26, 2016, at his son's home in Alachua, Fla. He was born May 17, 1924, in Cashton to Ole and Mae Olson. He was their 10th child. He met Elizabeth Sarah Anderson, from Strum, Wis., at a Luther League Convention in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, and they were married Aug. 19, 1950. She preceded him in death after 58 years of marriage. He had a great life working on the family dairy farm. He loved the animals, especially his dogs and the horses. He became a Christian when he was a young boy. Playing baseball for both the Cashton High School team and the City Team were great memories. He graduated from Cashton High School in 1942. His plan was to be a dairy farmer for life, but God had other plans for him. He contracted polio in October 1952 at 28. He was a man of tremendous faith in God, so even though he was paralyzed from the waist down, he didn’t feel sorry for himself, but followed a new path by going to school for bookkeeping/accounting. His first job after finishing school was as a business manager at Superior 400 Oil Company, La Crosse. Later he also purchased a Spur Gas Station in Westby, Wis. In 1964, he moved his family to Warsaw to work as a business manager for Ken Anderson Films. He was excited to be working for this Christian ministry that produced and distributed Gospel movies to show to children, teens and adults all over the world. In 1986, soon after retirement, he found out that he needed to be around people, so he became a greeter at Wal-Mart, Warsaw. Meeting and helping people was a great job for him and he stayed there for 12 years. In 2011, he moved to Florida to live out his last years with Tim on his farm. He was a member of the Gideons International for 55 years. He held all local and some state leadership positions in Indiana. He personally gave out thousands of personal worker New Testaments to people as he witnessed to them about the saving grace of the Lord Jesus. He was a member of the Winona Lake Presbyterian Church for 50 years, where he served as elder, deacon, treasurer and Sunday School teacher. The first time you met Walter, you would see a nice man sitting in a wheelchair and you probably would feel sorry for him. After getting to know him, you would never see the wheelchair again, but you would see a very special, blessed and Godly man that was making a difference in this world. Surviving are his sons, Dr. Timothy Olson, Alachua, Fla., and Thomas (and spouse Gerri) Olson, Sheboygan Falls, Wis.; seven grandchildren: Karen (and spouse Mike) Conley, Matthew Olson, Laila (and spouse Cesar) Morales, David (and spouse Xixi) Olson, Kelry (and spouse Tim) Kirschenmann, Patric Olson and Kayla Olson; 11 great-grandchildren; 10 brother/sisters-in-law, along with many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and six sisters. Very special thanks to Linda Fisher who has been dad’s caregiver for the last four years. We will be eternally grateful to you. Also special thanks to Dr. Fred and Vicky Schert. Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 30016 County Road PC, Cashton, Wis. Burial will follow in the Moen Cemetery. Family and friends are invited for visitation from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church. The Torkelson Funeral Home in Cashton, Wis., is assisting the family with arrangements. ***** Family has chosen to have donations be made to The Gideons International in Walter’s name. Online condolences are available at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
