Gerald L. Olson

Gerald L. “Jerry” Olson, Jr., 52, of Joy, lost his courageous battle with cancer on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012 at Mercer County Hospital, Aledo.  Jerry had been fighting a brain tumor since Nov. 26, 2004.  Services are 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012 at First Baptist Church, Joy.  Pastor Seth Bowker, officiating.  Pallbearers are Ray Olson, Jim Armstrong, Mark Fourdyce, John Etheridge, Brad Lincoln, Randy Frieden, Don Conger and Ron Brown.  Honorary pallbearers are Travis Olson, Brad Olson, Barry Olson, Randy Palmer and Bill Newswander.  Burial will be in Peniel Cemetery, Joy.  Visitation is 4 - 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012 at Dennison Funeral Home, Aledo.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left for the family.  Online condolences may be left at www.dennisonfuneralhome.com.

Gerald was born Oct. 17, 1959 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa a son of Gerald L., Sr. and Merlene “Cookie” (Peterson) Olson.  He graduated from Westmer High School in 1977.  On June 18, 1987 he married Christine Brown in Muscatine, Iowa.  Jerry was a machine operator at Hon Industries, Muscatine for 27 years.  He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting and fishing.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Chris Olson, Joy; children, Travis Olson, Aledo, Rebecca Olson, Overland Park, Kansas and Brad Olson, Joy; a granddaughter, Averie Olson; his parents, Jerry, Sr. and Cookie Olson, Joy; mother-in-law, Linda Brown, Wapello, Iowa; siblings, Brenda (Randy) Frieden, Millersburg, Ray (Barb) Olson, Aledo and Annie (Randy) Palmer, Eliza.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Gary Olson; grandparents, Carl and Ola Mae Olson, Thelma Burton and Harold Peterson and his father in law, Charles Leroy Brown, Jr.