ED OLSSON, OLDEST COUNTY RESIDENT, DIES
Big Rapids - Ed Olsson, probably the oldest living Mecosta County resident, died Friday morning, April 8, at Greenridge Nursing Center at the age of 103.
He and his wife Marie shared nearly eight decades of marriage before she died in January of 1987 after celebrating their 79th anniversary in December 1986.
Born in Big Rapids Feb. 2, 1885, he moved to a home between Rodney and Mecosta in 1918 where he lived until moving into Greenridge Nursing Center seven years ago.
He married Marie Dec. 11, 1907, and when Pioneer staff reporter John Raffel interviewed the couple on the occasion of their 72nd anniversary, they said they hope "to live as long as we can."
And through the past couple years, Ed's hearing was deteriorating but "my memory is damn good," he said during an earlier interview.
He was one of seven children and attended school through the fifth grade at the Third Ward School in Big Rapids. He left home when he was 14 and went to the Upper Peninsula. Olsson worked in a cook shack for a lumber camp during one winter. His first job, though, was heling his father sell vegetables.
Gardening was important to Olsson and until his arthritis caught up with him, he had a garden.
Referring to his lifelong stay in Big Rapids, Olsson said in a earlier interview "it's nice and quiet. . . nobody bothers you here; not even the sheriff."
For years, Olsson worked in the coal yards and then for the old Hood and Wright sawmill in Big Rapids. Later he was at Hanchett's working in the foundry.
A mason by trade he claimed to be an expert in stone work and fireplaces. He was 75 when he quit as a mason and retired having worked fulltime at the trade for about 45 years.
He also farmed for about 40 years, raising corn, beans and potatoes.
Surviving are a daughter-in-law Lorine Olsson of Rodney; two grandchildren, Kenneth of Rodney and Larry of Reed City; 11 great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews, including Bill and Janet Davison of Big Rapids.
He was preceded in death by his son, Lawrence in 1981, a son, Edgar in 1911 and two brothers and four sisters.
Services will be 2:30 pm Sunday at Rogers Mohnke Funeral Home with the Rev. Kendall A Lewis officiating. Burial will be in Highland View Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 pm today (Saturday) and until time of services.
Big Rapids - Ed Olsson, probably the oldest living Mecosta County resident, died Friday morning, April 8, at Greenridge Nursing Center at the age of 103.
He and his wife Marie shared nearly eight decades of marriage before she died in January of 1987 after celebrating their 79th anniversary in December 1986.
Born in Big Rapids Feb. 2, 1885, he moved to a home between Rodney and Mecosta in 1918 where he lived until moving into Greenridge Nursing Center seven years ago.
He married Marie Dec. 11, 1907, and when Pioneer staff reporter John Raffel interviewed the couple on the occasion of their 72nd anniversary, they said they hope "to live as long as we can."
And through the past couple years, Ed's hearing was deteriorating but "my memory is damn good," he said during an earlier interview.
He was one of seven children and attended school through the fifth grade at the Third Ward School in Big Rapids. He left home when he was 14 and went to the Upper Peninsula. Olsson worked in a cook shack for a lumber camp during one winter. His first job, though, was heling his father sell vegetables.
Gardening was important to Olsson and until his arthritis caught up with him, he had a garden.
Referring to his lifelong stay in Big Rapids, Olsson said in a earlier interview "it's nice and quiet. . . nobody bothers you here; not even the sheriff."
For years, Olsson worked in the coal yards and then for the old Hood and Wright sawmill in Big Rapids. Later he was at Hanchett's working in the foundry.
A mason by trade he claimed to be an expert in stone work and fireplaces. He was 75 when he quit as a mason and retired having worked fulltime at the trade for about 45 years.
He also farmed for about 40 years, raising corn, beans and potatoes.
Surviving are a daughter-in-law Lorine Olsson of Rodney; two grandchildren, Kenneth of Rodney and Larry of Reed City; 11 great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews, including Bill and Janet Davison of Big Rapids.
He was preceded in death by his son, Lawrence in 1981, a son, Edgar in 1911 and two brothers and four sisters.
Services will be 2:30 pm Sunday at Rogers Mohnke Funeral Home with the Rev. Kendall A Lewis officiating. Burial will be in Highland View Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 pm today (Saturday) and until time of services.
ED OLSSON, OLDEST COUNTY RESIDENT, DIES
Big Rapids - Ed Olsson, probably the oldest living Mecosta County resident, died Friday morning, April 8, at Greenridge Nursing Center at the age of 103.
He and his wife Marie shared nearly eight decades of marriage before she died in January of 1987 after celebrating their 79th anniversary in December 1986.
Born in Big Rapids Feb. 2, 1885, he moved to a home between Rodney and Mecosta in 1918 where he lived until moving into Greenridge Nursing Center seven years ago.
He married Marie Dec. 11, 1907, and when Pioneer staff reporter John Raffel interviewed the couple on the occasion of their 72nd anniversary, they said they hope "to live as long as we can."
And through the past couple years, Ed's hearing was deteriorating but "my memory is damn good," he said during an earlier interview.
He was one of seven children and attended school through the fifth grade at the Third Ward School in Big Rapids. He left home when he was 14 and went to the Upper Peninsula. Olsson worked in a cook shack for a lumber camp during one winter. His first job, though, was heling his father sell vegetables.
Gardening was important to Olsson and until his arthritis caught up with him, he had a garden.
Referring to his lifelong stay in Big Rapids, Olsson said in a earlier interview "it's nice and quiet. . . nobody bothers you here; not even the sheriff."
For years, Olsson worked in the coal yards and then for the old Hood and Wright sawmill in Big Rapids. Later he was at Hanchett's working in the foundry.
A mason by trade he claimed to be an expert in stone work and fireplaces. He was 75 when he quit as a mason and retired having worked fulltime at the trade for about 45 years.
He also farmed for about 40 years, raising corn, beans and potatoes.
Surviving are a daughter-in-law Lorine Olsson of Rodney; two grandchildren, Kenneth of Rodney and Larry of Reed City; 11 great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews, including Bill and Janet Davison of Big Rapids.
He was preceded in death by his son, Lawrence in 1981, a son, Edgar in 1911 and two brothers and four sisters.
Services will be 2:30 pm Sunday at Rogers Mohnke Funeral Home with the Rev. Kendall A Lewis officiating. Burial will be in Highland View Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 pm today (Saturday) and until time of services.
Big Rapids - Ed Olsson, probably the oldest living Mecosta County resident, died Friday morning, April 8, at Greenridge Nursing Center at the age of 103.
He and his wife Marie shared nearly eight decades of marriage before she died in January of 1987 after celebrating their 79th anniversary in December 1986.
Born in Big Rapids Feb. 2, 1885, he moved to a home between Rodney and Mecosta in 1918 where he lived until moving into Greenridge Nursing Center seven years ago.
He married Marie Dec. 11, 1907, and when Pioneer staff reporter John Raffel interviewed the couple on the occasion of their 72nd anniversary, they said they hope "to live as long as we can."
And through the past couple years, Ed's hearing was deteriorating but "my memory is damn good," he said during an earlier interview.
He was one of seven children and attended school through the fifth grade at the Third Ward School in Big Rapids. He left home when he was 14 and went to the Upper Peninsula. Olsson worked in a cook shack for a lumber camp during one winter. His first job, though, was heling his father sell vegetables.
Gardening was important to Olsson and until his arthritis caught up with him, he had a garden.
Referring to his lifelong stay in Big Rapids, Olsson said in a earlier interview "it's nice and quiet. . . nobody bothers you here; not even the sheriff."
For years, Olsson worked in the coal yards and then for the old Hood and Wright sawmill in Big Rapids. Later he was at Hanchett's working in the foundry.
A mason by trade he claimed to be an expert in stone work and fireplaces. He was 75 when he quit as a mason and retired having worked fulltime at the trade for about 45 years.
He also farmed for about 40 years, raising corn, beans and potatoes.
Surviving are a daughter-in-law Lorine Olsson of Rodney; two grandchildren, Kenneth of Rodney and Larry of Reed City; 11 great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews, including Bill and Janet Davison of Big Rapids.
He was preceded in death by his son, Lawrence in 1981, a son, Edgar in 1911 and two brothers and four sisters.
Services will be 2:30 pm Sunday at Rogers Mohnke Funeral Home with the Rev. Kendall A Lewis officiating. Burial will be in Highland View Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 pm today (Saturday) and until time of services.
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