1926
Roland
2014
Roland 'Rollie' E. Olson
March 16, 1926 — November 13, 2014
HOLDEN – Roland “Rollie” E. Olson, 88, of Brattle Street, passed away peacefully under the loving care of his family and the staff at Dodge Park Rest Home in Worcester. Born and raised in Worcester, Rollie was the son of Swedish immigrants Karl Eskil Olson and Anna C. (Nyberg) and lived 55 years in Holden.
Rollie graduated from Commerce High School and enlisted into the U.S. Army at the age of 18. He honorably served his country during World War II as a Sergeant with the 3d Tank Battalion, 10th Armored Division, also known as the “Tiger” division. Landing in Cherbourg in September of 1944, they fought in the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe where Rollie received the “Bronze Star”. After returning home from the war, he met the love of his life, Barbara Strand bowling with the Greendale Lutheran Bowling League. They married on October 4, 1952, and later moved to Holden where the raised their children.
Rollie continued his education at Worcester Junior College earning a degree in engineering. He worked 39 years at Norton Company as an engineer and supervisor, retiring in 1985. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Holden and sang in its choir. Rollie was also a member of the Worcester Men of Song, Old Sturbridge Village Singers, Greendale Retired Men’s Club and Chorus, Friends of the Holden Council on Aging and ran the Holden Senior Center’s Bowling League.
He was friendly and outgoing and earnestly enjoyed woodworking and remodeling for family and friends. He was a longtime volunteer at the Holden Senior Center and was a driver for the Meals on Wheels Program. In 2003, Rollie received the Holden Good Neighbor Award by the Holden Democratic Committee.
Rollie is survived by his wife of 62 years, Barbara L. (Strand) Olson; a daughter, Karen Pugatch and her husband Dr. Robert Pugatch of Lutherville, Maryland; two brothers, Donald Olson of Holden and Roger M. Olson of Tamworth, New Hampshire; four grandchildren, Adam, Silas, Samuel, Joshua; a great-grandchild, Caleb; nephews and nieces. He is predeceased by his son, Jeffrey Olson who died in 1998 and his brother, Irving Olson.
A memorial service honoring Rollie’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 22, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 346 Shrewsbury Street, Holden. Interment will be held at 10 a.m. at Grove Cemetery, Holden, prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Camp Calumet, 1090 Ossipee Lake Road, West Ossipee, NH 03890. Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden.
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Rollie graduated from Commerce High School and enlisted into the U.S. Army at the age of 18. He honorably served his country during World War II as a Sergeant with the 3d Tank Battalion, 10th Armored Division, also known as the “Tiger” division. Landing in Cherbourg in September of 1944, they fought in the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe where Rollie received the “Bronze Star”. After returning home from the war, he met the love of his life, Barbara Strand bowling with the Greendale Lutheran Bowling League. They married on October 4, 1952, and later moved to Holden where the raised their children.
Rollie continued his education at Worcester Junior College earning a degree in engineering. He worked 39 years at Norton Company as an engineer and supervisor, retiring in 1985. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Holden and sang in its choir. Rollie was also a member of the Worcester Men of Song, Old Sturbridge Village Singers, Greendale Retired Men’s Club and Chorus, Friends of the Holden Council on Aging and ran the Holden Senior Center’s Bowling League.
He was friendly and outgoing and earnestly enjoyed woodworking and remodeling for family and friends. He was a longtime volunteer at the Holden Senior Center and was a driver for the Meals on Wheels Program. In 2003, Rollie received the Holden Good Neighbor Award by the Holden Democratic Committee.
Rollie is survived by his wife of 62 years, Barbara L. (Strand) Olson; a daughter, Karen Pugatch and her husband Dr. Robert Pugatch of Lutherville, Maryland; two brothers, Donald Olson of Holden and Roger M. Olson of Tamworth, New Hampshire; four grandchildren, Adam, Silas, Samuel, Joshua; a great-grandchild, Caleb; nephews and nieces. He is predeceased by his son, Jeffrey Olson who died in 1998 and his brother, Irving Olson.
A memorial service honoring Rollie’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 22, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 346 Shrewsbury Street, Holden. Interment will be held at 10 a.m. at Grove Cemetery, Holden, prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Camp Calumet, 1090 Ossipee Lake Road, West Ossipee, NH 03890. Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden.
To share a memory or offer a condolence, please "Sign the Guest book" on this page.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Roland 'Rollie' E. Olson, please visit our flower store.
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