Mervin Elwood Olson was born February 5, 1934 to Emil and Marie (Carlson) Olson in Cumberland, Wisconsin where he lived every one of his 90 years.

He finished the eighth grade in a one room schoolhouse at the Sprague School and graduated from Cumberland High in 1952. Like his father and mother, he farmed the land on which his Swedish immigrant grandparents made their homestead, just outside of town on Highway 63 toward Comstock. He was a respectful, hard-working steward of the land, tilling the soil and tending a herd of cows he milked and knew by name for over 50 years. He was blessed, he used to say, to have been a farmer during these particular decades – after machinery and technology made farm work easier and more productive but before evolution in the US economy made it hard to earn a living on a small family farm.

Though he never married, he was deeply connected to others. He shared much of his life on the farm with his older sister Elaine and friend Helen Savage - who became family. He found meaningful companionship in his later years with Delores Sandve and, after her death, Dona Neby, until her death in 2021. He was a devoted big brother to his sister, LaVonne, and her husband, Paul Batalden, and a proud, loving uncle for his two nieces, Maren and Sonja, and their loved ones – Alta, Amos, Jim, Isaiah, Maura, Finn, Will. He was close to a large extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins – and a beautiful circle of others. He was a good and loyal friend, a helpful neighbor, a ready conversationalist, a listener with an open heart, a learner with an open mind. He read and watched the news, followed the weather, worked puzzles, loved a good game of Quiddler or dominoes and baked delicious cookies – sugar, oatmeal raisin, and chocolate chip. He had an engaging chuckle, a twinkle in his eyes and an impressive ability to wiggle his ears. Birthday cards from Mervin always arrived on time.

A lifelong Lutheran, he was baptized and confirmed at Augustana Lutheran Church, where he sang in the choir and served on the church council. He missed very few weekly worship services in his nine decades. Walking across the parking lot to First Lutheran was one of the best things about moving to town after he sold his farm to Olson cousins in 2023. His faith grounded him and helped him keep things in perspective. He was resilient in the face of loss and unfailingly generous with his time, his money, his judgment, his home-grown tomatoes, rhubarb and raspberries. He was gentle in the barn with calves and kittens, consistently committed to a job well and carefully done, and almost always whistled or hummed a tune while he worked.

He died peacefully on September 10, surrounded by family at Cumberland Care and Rehab. Well done, good and faithful servant. He was beloved and he will be deeply missed.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, Oct 5 at 11:00 am at First Lutheran Church in Cumberland, WI. Gifts in his memory may be given to First Lutheran Church in Cumberland or Benjamin’s House in Rice Lake, WI.

Last Update: Sep 16, 2024 2:27 pm CDT