Marlin "Ole" Olson

March 7, 1940 - December 22, 2018

Marlin “Ole” Duane Olson, the son of Lewis and Jeanette (Lamping) Olson, was born March 7, 1940 in Thompson, Iowa. He was raised in both Brainerd, Minnesota and Des Moines, Iowa. He graduated high school from the Des Moines Technical High School in 1958, then enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was a military police officer and served in Guam and Japan, until his honorable discharge in 1962. At that time, he returned to Des Moines and went on to have a very successful career working for Firestone. On March 31, 1982, Marlin was united in marriage to the love of his life, Linda Spencer. The couple made their home in Beech, Iowa. Marlin retired from Firestone in 1999 after 35+ years of service. Throughout his career, he was well known and proud to share his wife Linda’s homemade pies with the Firestone crew. His passion was attending auctions and looking for the next bargain. He also enjoyed gardening, yard work, Credit River Antique Tractor Club and in his earlier years both fishing and hunting. The highlight of every summer was state fair time, where he spent every day attending either the Iowa or Minnesota State Fairs, enjoying a corn dog, drinking only the best, Hoppy’s lemonade and admiring Allis Chalmers Tractors. The bargain shopper in him, loved the Varied Industry building where he could browse new products and gather free samples. Whenever he could, he looked forward to and loved spending time with family and friends. Marlin passed away on Saturday, December 22, 2018 at the age 78 years. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Lorraine, Betty and Richard. Those left to honor Marlin’s life include his loving wife, Linda; 3 step-children: Mary, Chuck, and Lori; 7 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; siblings Jerry and Roger Olson and all of his nieces and nephews that he thought of as his "kids" and his many friends. A funeral service for Marlin “Ole” Olson, age 78 of Beech, Iowa, will be held on Sunday, December 30, 2018 at the Mason Funeral Home at 2:00 p.m. in Pleasantville, Iowa. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial, with Military Honors, will be held Monday, December 31, 2018 at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery at 9:30 a.m. Memorials may be designated to Ronald McDonald house.