Lorna Olson

Lorna V. Olson, 90, of Cleghorn, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at the Heartland Care Center in Marcus. Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 24, 2023, at Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Marcus, Iowa. Rev. Don Meyer and Rev. Ray Ohlendorf will officiate. Burial will follow at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, rural Marcus, Iowa. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 23, 2023, at the Earnest – Johnson Funeral Home in Marcus. The family will be present from 5-7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to the service on Saturday.

Lorna Viola Gottsche was born on January 2, 1933, in Plymouth County, Iowa, the daughter of William and Viola Minnie (Grage) Gottsche. She was Baptized and Confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church in Remsen, Iowa. She attended school in Remsen, Iowa.

On February 25, 1951, Lorna and James Alfred Olson were united in marriage at Christ Lutheran Church in Remsen. They farmed for 30 years, many of them near Marcus, then spent several years in Arlington, Texas where Lorna worked for AMPI. When they returned to Iowa they settled in Cleghorn and she retired. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Marcus.

What greater honor, than to be called a faithful Christian woman. Lorna lived her faith through her kindness, compassion, forgiveness, generosity. She was a faithful wife, loving (and strict) mother, doting grandmother, proud great grandmother. She worked hard on the farm, raising six kids, working in the fields, gardening, and keeping the house spotless. She taught Sunday School for years and also taught preschool. She worked for AMPI in Texas doing telephone sales, and not surprisingly, her boss loved her. Seems like everyone loved her. Mostly Jim, whose dying request was that we take care of Mom. You could try to take care of her, but it always seemed she was taking care of you. She was beautiful inside and out. She endured hardships most of us can’t imagine, and remained the same sweet, gentle person. If you were lucky, she babysat you or your children or your grandchildren, and you worked and learned and, oh, what joy was had! She loved jigsaw puzzles, playing word games on her iPad, loved playing cards and Farkle, but only fun or super-fun Farkle. She had a great sense of humor and an irresistibly infectious laugh. She knew her own mind, and it was hard to change it. She was an admitted stubborn German. She was faithful unto death. She leaves a hole in our hearts that will never be filled, until we see her again in heaven. Love you, love you, love you.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children; Constance (Alan) Sand of Cleghorn, IA; Steven (Mary) Olson of Marcus, IA; Richard (LaDonna) Olson of Odebolt, IA; Michael (Tammy) Olson of Quimby, IA; Jean (Jeff) Sassman of Storm Lake, IA; 13 grandchildren plus step-grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren plus step-great grandchildren; brother, Virgil (Cindy) Gottsche; sister-in-law, Casey Gottsche; and brother-in-law, Paul (Norma) Olson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, James on July 18, 2019; son, James Olson; a great-grandchild, Peyton Almagno; a sister, Lorraine Weber; and brothers, Donald and Duane Gottsche.