Douglas R. Olson

Douglas R. Olson, 78, passed away Nov. 5, 2022, with family by his side in Grand Island, NE.

He was born Aug. 17, 1944, in Independence, KS, to Raymond and Marie Olson. Doug graduated from Papillion High School in 1962.  He attended Peru State University in Nebraska for a short time. During his time at Peru State, he bought a $.50 lottery ticket and won his first car, a green 1949 Ford. His first love in life was the military, he joined the US Army in 1964 and was medically discharged from the Army National Guard in 1990.

In 1970, he was set up on a blind date with Lillie Carpenter, he showed up for their date to see Lillie helping to cook up a ‘coon. They were married the following year on April 18, 1971 in El Dorado Springs.  When they were first married, they made their home in Omaha, NE, then lived for a short time in St. Louis before finally settling in Nevada.

Doug was a skilled mechanic and enjoyed working on cars and fishing before his accident while on active duty in 1988. After his accident, Doug enjoyed sitting on his front porch striking up a conversation with anyone that came by. He did not know a stranger. He was proud of his children and even more so of his grandchildren.

Doug is survived by his wife, Lillie, of the home, and their four children, Mike (Rainy) Olson, Amy (Michael) Fields, Travis (Sarah) Olson, and Chyna (Josh) Mundy; 10 grandchildren, Jackson, Sierra, Micah, Trevor, Kailey, Andrew, Allison, Jacob, Ryleigh and Asher; mother, Marie Olson, of Geneva, NE; sister, Marla (Jim) Runge, of Geneva, NE, and brother David (Connie) Olson, of Bella Vista, AR.

He was preceded in death by his father, Raymond Olson, and his infant son, Benjamin Olson.

Donations may be sent to Wounded Warrior Project.

Celebration of Life was held from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Eagles in Nevada. Interment at Linden Cemetery Rock Port at a later date.

You may view obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.