Wayne Clarence Olson

RON RIVER, Mich. - Wayne Clarence Olson, 72, of Iron River, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015, at his home at Camp Lake with his loving wife and all his daughters at his side, succumbing to pancreatic cancer.

He was born Sept. 15, 1943, in Stambaugh Hospital, the son of the late Clarence and Doris (Lee) Olson. He grew up on the family farm in Beechwood with his sister and brother.

Wayne worked in the woods, cutting logs for his father and then helping him with his sawmill, making lumber. He then moved to Chicago where he worked as a butcher in a small grocery store. In 1964, he enlisted in the Army until his honorable discharge in 1967. He then went back to Chicago and got a job at Cummins Diesel as a mechanic.

Wayne married the former Sheila Corrine Makela on Nov. 2, 1968, in Black River at Minister William Prusi's home. In 1969 the couple moved to Camp Lake near Iron River and Wayne went to work for CCIC at the Republic Mine. He retired from the Tilden Mine after 28 years. Wayne also owned and operated his own logging truck.

He was a member of the Finish Apostolic Lutheran Church. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting and fishing with his wife and also teaching his grandsons gun safety and target shooting.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Sheila; daughters, Heidi (Wayne) Westphal, of Iron River, Lisa (Albert "Pete" Jr.) Peterson, of Watersmeet and Amy (Chuck) Schmit, of Fredonia, Wis .; brother, Loren (Nancy) Olson, of Iron River; sister, Sharon (Ralph "Bud") Johnson, of Iron River; five grandchildren, Peter Lievense Jr., Carter and Marissa Schmit, Haley and Nicole Peterson; special "winter adopted" daughter and friend, Lora Stockman of Summerfield, Fla .; several nieces, nephews and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Wendy Carol Olson.

Visitation will be held Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Jacobs Funeral Home of Iron River. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. with Minister Ray Kovala to officiate.

Interment will be in Rosehill Cemetery, Beechwood. The West Side Veterans will accord military rites at the graveside.

Condolences may be expressed to the family of Wayne Clarence Olson online at jacobsfuneralhomeir.com.

The family was assisted with funeral arrangements by the Jacobs Funeral Home of Iron River.