Obituaries : Thomas “Tom” Olson

Thomas “Tom” Olson, 71, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Tuesday, April 19, 2016, at the Iowa Veterans Home, Marshalltown. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m., Friday, April 22, 2016, at St. Matthew Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, by Reverend David Beckman. Visitation:  4-6 p.m., Thursday, April 21, 2016, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, with a vigil service at 6 p.m. Burial with Military Honors: Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

   Survivors include his wife, Norma; daughter, Bobbi (Larry) Olson-Noggle; step-son, Hector Castro; step-daughter, Tezia (Manuel) Gonzalez; grandchildren, Karen and Jose Gonzalez, and Rachel Noggle; step-father, Jim Fuehrer; brother, Mike (Gloria) Olson; sisters, Patrice (Richard) Terry, Lorri (Joe) Hutchcroft, Lisa (Kent) Bowden, and Stacey (Kevin) Bowden; many nieces and nephews; and close friends, Don Eells and Bob Hanson.

   Tom was born June 23, 1944, in Vinton, Iowa, to Emil Edward and Virginia Mae (Kohl) Olson. He served valiantly in the US Navy during the Vietnam War as a combat medic. He was part of the first Marine Battalion sent to Vietnam, and helped give medical care to his fellow soldiers. Upon returning home, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in History at Mankato State, and married Norma Adilia on May 2, 1992, in Guatemala. He was a hard worker, and worked as a salesman for Keller-Hull for over 30 years.

  Tom enjoyed all sports, especially college, and was a fan of the Yankees. He was incredibly smart when it came to sports statistics—he didn’t read the sports pages, he studied them—and made sports trivia a game to stump his friend Don. Tom liked having visitors at the Veterans Home, and would watch the Hawkeye games and eat snacks with his brother, Mike, when he visited. Tom’s grandchildren visited from Guatemala and sang songs for him. He enjoyed reading, religious and bible study, and praying the rosary. Tom had a sense of humor, and was a tough, resilient man. He was active in the Xavier High School Foundation, and wanted to be remembered as a kind person who tried to help people. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

   He was preceded in death by his parents; and grandparents, especially Grandma Elizabeth Olson.

   A memorial fund has been established in Tom’s name.

   Please share your support and memories with Tom’s family on his tribute wall at www.stewartbaxter.com under obituaries.