Dorie L. Olson

WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Dorie L. Olson, 98, of Wakefield, died Sept. 1, 2016, at Aspirus Grand View Hospital in Ironwood.

She was born Oct. 23, 1917, in Wakefield, daughter of the late James and Marian (Ozzello) Negro, and graduated from Wakefield High School in 1935. After graduation, she worked at the Wakefield Co-op in Jim Town for three years. In 1938, she married Edward W. Olson of Bergland, and they moved to Big Bay and later to Detroit, where she worked during the war years.

Upon returning to Wakefield, she worked at the Lakeview Inn until she entered the first LPN program upon its inception at Grand View Hospital and graduated from Northern Michigan University in 1963. Dorie was employed as an LPN at the Divine Infant Hospital until its closure in 1979.

On Sept. 7, 1974, she was united in marriage to Wilbur S. Olson in Wakefield. Wilbur survives, along with her son, Sidney (MaryJane) Olson, San Juan Capistrano, Calif .; daughter-in-law, Phyllis Smith Olson, Wakefield; four grandchildren, Kim (Neil) Corcoran, Ironwood, James (Leslie Sampson) Olson, Wakefield, Terry (Robert) Jacobs, Williston, Vt., and Jayson (Christine Schiller) Olson, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif .; three great-grandchildren, Jimmy and Samantha Olson, Ramsay, and Tyler Jacobs, Williston; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Edward in 1967; her son, James "Eagle" Olson on Nov. 4, 2014; her daughter-in-law, Patricia Tarnaski Olson in 1986; her brother and sister-in-law, John and Grace Negro; and her sister and brother-in-law, Marie and Simon Johnson.

Dorie took great pride in her profession as a nurse, and after her retirement tended to many of her neighbors' and friends' medical concerns. She continued to provide TLC to her fellow residents at Gogebic Medical Care Facility, where she resided for the past 12 years. She is also well remembered for her excellent nursing skills by former patients and mothers who delivered their children at Divine.

She loved to cook wonderful Italian dishes, among others, and bake great desserts, which were enjoyed by all relatives and friends. Other interests included sewing, knitting, crocheting and watching Michigan State and the Detroit Pistons' basketball games. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were very special and she always enjoyed their company.

She and Wilbur traveled throughout the United States and, along with her sister, Marie, visited and met cousins in her father's hometown of Locana, Italy. She was a lifelong member of the Immaculate Conception Church in Wakefield and very active in the Senior Citizen organization.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, Sept. 6, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church in Wakefield, with the Rev. Dominic Agyapong, celebrant. Luncheon will be served at the church following the ceremony.

Burial will be at Lakeside Cemetery, Wakefield, with funeral arrangements entrusted to Jerald Rocco, Lakeside Memorial Chapel, Wakefield.